Old Champaign In A New Bottle

For centuries Circus has been an attractive subject for film makers. Some really great films have been made on Circus over the years. The complex and demanding circus atmosphere presents a compelling script of human struggle. Behind every laugh there may be lots of tears behind the make up. Add that to the 1931 depression hit atmosphere and we are up against a brilliant set up. Water For Elephants builds up it's story based on this moving premise before throwing it up for the sake of a forced love story.
Water For Elephants starts on a mature note through the recollection of an old gentleman and slowly the flashback takes us to 1931 when a young Polish American Lad Jacob loses his parents and ends up in a Circus Company as a Vet. Very quickly he becomes popular with his inmates and in particular his insane boss August brilliantly played by the awesome Christoph Waltz. Then joins the real attraction of the film Rosie, the giant Elephant. Jacob becomes her Bull man and in a way becomes close to the star of the Circus - Marlena, wife of August. All of a sudden love blossoms and the story takes a predictable turn.
The story had so much potential but neither it chooses to follow the human angle under stress nor the tension between August & Jacob instead the focus turned on to the love story between Jacob & Marlena, but lack of any chemistry between the lead pair fails to put life into the love affair. The second half of the film clearly lacks vision and conviction.

The acting department has a mix bag of performances. Where the supporting cast is lively and believable the lead lacks the punch. Robert Pattinson proves himself once again and surely he should confine himself only to the Twilight Series and leave acting to others. He proves with every scene that acting is not his cup of tea. He seems in total pain while emoting any scene what so ever. I used to be a big fan of Reese Witherspoon but She too is disappointing as Marlena. But Christoph Waltz has been a revelation once again. It felt like he just changed the costume but retained the skin of Col. Hans Landa.
All in all Water for Elephants is a mix bag experience for me. I loved the set up but hated the turn of the story to an romantic end.
I am going with 6 out of 10 for Water for Elephants. It's a combination of two stories. Whereas one of it fascinates me the other half completely disappoints me. Watch it if you like soppy love stories.