Gillipedia Official Rating: Robert Pattinson can’t escape love triangles
In the midst of Team Edward vs. Team
Jacob fever, Robert Pattinson decided to bat for both teams by playing Jacob Jankowski
in the circus film Water for Elephants. There’s elements of the
farm work from films like Days of Heaven and Of Mice and Men
early on, but the film takes a more fantastical approach about halfway through
once the animals become the stars of the show. There’s some impressive
filmmaking shots and even good acting on display, but the driving force becomes
the complicated nature of the relationship among Pattinson, sweetheart Reese
Witherspoon, and Christoph Waltz who only knows how to switch gears between
kind-hearted and intense.
After his humble parents die in a car
crash, Pattinson abandons veterinary law and wanders along without a goal or purpose
in sight. He boards a passing train in the dead of the night only to realize
that it’s the train carrying all the workers for Waltz’s Benzini Bros.
travelling circus company. Instead of being thrown off, old-timer Camel
sees Pattinson’s potential and finds work for him. It doesn’t take long before
he locks eyes with Witherspoon before being warned about crossing Waltz and his
wife. Pattinson takes a liking to the whole show, but he notices that one of
the current star horses has a disease in its hoof and will have to be put down.
In need of a new starring act to drive ticket sales, Waltz buys an elephant and
puts Pattinson in charge of its caretaking.
In the circus are some side acts like
the heaviest woman and tattooed lady, but there’s animals like lions that make
an appearance. Anytime the movie has the introverted Pattinson interacting with
these animals is when the film is at its best. The film also has the benefit of
likable side characters to support the main three stars. What the film tends to
lack is compelling drama or real stakes. Pattinson’s rise through the circus
ranks is quick, and it has to balance developing a love story around turning
Waltz into a formidable antagonist. And as he has shown multiple times in his
career, Waltz knows how to turn on the evil. But the circus and the Waltz and
the pleasant 30s setting all sit in the nosebleeds for Pattinson and
Witherspoon.
As far as love triangles go, this isn’t
terrible. I mean, it’s not what I was rooting for in this movie, but it’s
well-crafted for what it is. And there’s plenty of smirk and jaw line from
Pattinson to keep the motors running.
Water for Elephants will most
likely leave my mind in under a week, but it’s also one of those films after
watching where you shrug and remark, “Yeah that was good.” I wouldn’t gawk at
anyone for watching this movie, but I might give a side eye if someone suggests
that this is Pattinson’s best work—especially with how busy he’s been taking
challenging and left field roles in a desperate plea to put his shiny vampire
days behind him. He’s exchanging his fangs for a cowl in the upcoming The
Batman next year, and I have cautiously high hopes for that film. Now to go
watch him in Tenet as soon as that is available to me in a theater
nearby.
Oh, and if you’re wanting a film with
Waltz as the villain, please watch either Inglorious Basterds or Django
Unchained.
In
Brief:
- Wakanda Forever.
