Rating of
2.5/4
A forbidden love story!
MovieAddict - wrote on 05/09/12
Jacob, (Twilight hottie Robert Pattinson not Taylor Lautner) a finishing student at Cornell University is studying to become a veterinarian but after learning of his parents’ untimely death in a car accident Jacob finds out they had mortgaged the homestead to pay for his college. In an instant, Jacob has lost everything, his home, his parents, and his career. He jumps a circus freight train as a stowaway but eventually becomes the vet when the ringmaster realizes there is the need.
The star attraction, a big white horse has developed a nasty sore on its hoof. Jacob realizes the horse is in severe pain and must be put down but the tyrannical ring master August (Christophe Waltz who is really getting some meaty “bad-guy” roles and is absolutely brilliant throughout the movie) won't hear of it, wanting to squeeze every penny out of his star horse.
Jacob falls in love with the beautiful rider of the horse Marlena (Reese Witherspoon), who (wouldn't you know it) is the wife of the sadistic ring leader. I'm surprised the Costume Department didn't supply him with a twirly mustache to twist lol)
August acquires an elephant, Rosie, from one the dozens of circuses that were going under at that time but mercilessly beats the animal when she refuses to perform at first. We later find out the elephant understands only Polish which luckily for us Jacob speaks. Jacob also witnesses the cruelty August exhibits towards his wife when he loses his temper. The bond formed by Jacob and Marlena over the new elephant Rosie doesn't go unnoticed by the unpredictable August.
Eventually, Jacob succumbs to Marlena’s charms, August discovers them, predictably the sh^t hits the fan, leading to a circus disaster, but the elephant saves the day!
