In 'Water For Elephants,' The Elephant is the Star

If any Hollywood performer deserves a lifetime achievement award, it is Tai, the pachyderm star of "Water for Elephants," the big screen adaptation of Sara Gruen's historical novel. A movie veteran, Tai, in character as Rosie, steals all her scenes, displaying more raw talent than Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon combined.

Temporarily shedding his sparkly vampire gig, Pattinson plays Jacob Jankowski, the ambitious son of two Polish immigrants. As Jacob sits down for his final veterinary science exam in 1931, he learns that both parents have been killed in a car crash. To make matters worse, Jacob's dad mortgaged the house to pay for his college education, leaving him little more than the clothes on his back.

Looking for a fresh start, Jacob hops a train belonging to the Benzini Brothers Circus, one of many traveling shows scraping by during the Great Depression. The would-be veterinarian has to prove his worth to August (Christoph Waltz), the cruel owner of the circus, or risk getting tossed off the moving train between performances.

Though he doesn't have a degree, Jacob knows animals, immediately spotting a problem with one of the horses. To relieve the animal's suffering, Jacob shoots the horse, which almost gets him tossed from the train a second time. August needs him around, though, to care for the elephant which will become the circus' new star attraction.

A beautiful period piece, "Water for Elephants" is a very watchable film, even though Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon can't generate enough romantic sparks to light a match. Witherspoon is quite effective as Marlena, August's wife and the blond-headed star of the big top. August treats his beautiful wife like one of the animals, forcing her to submit to his every whim and desire.

Pattinson does much better in affectionate scenes opposite Tai in "Water for Elephants." The star of "Larger than Life" and "Operation Dumbo Drop," Tai is quite the ham and a real charmer, rubbing her trunk sweetly on Robert Pattinson and stealing pink lemonade from one of the carnival barkers. It is impossible not to love an elephant that acts like an affectionate puppy.

Academy Award-winner Christoph Waltz is interesting as August, the cynical circus owner. Life during the Great Depression is cruel, and August doesn't make it any easier on his workers. If he can't make payroll, August has extra carnival hands thrown off the train between stops. August calls this 'redlining', but it amounts to nothing more than murder.

If Gruen and screenwriter Richard LaGravenese did their homework correctly, life for a circus performer in the 1930's was downright dangerous, with no guarantee of a paycheck. This horrific insight is, along with Tai the elephant, the main drawing card of the film. Audiences may head to the theater to see Robert Pattinson or Reese Witherspoon, but they are bound to fall in love with Tai.

"Water for Elephants," rated PG-13 for moments of intense violence and sexual contact, currently is playing in theaters.