The Water for Elephants review roundup is here – while some critics really enjoyed the Robert Pattinson / Reese Witherspoon romantic drama, other critics weren’t quite so wowed.

Here’s a rundown of Water for Elephants reviews, which scored 53 on Metacritic.com and 48% on RottenTomatoes.com:

Peter Debruge, Variety – “The filmmakers clearly value their public, crafting a splendid period swooner that delivers classic romance and an indelible insider’s view of 1930s circus life.”

Allison Benedikt, Chicago Tribune – “Like “The Notebook,” but with an elephant, the unexpectedly good film version of Water for Elephants elevates pure corn to a completely satisfying realm of romantic melodrama.”

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times – “In an age of prefabricated special effects and obviously phony spectacle, it’s sort of old-fashioned (and a pleasure) to see a movie made of real people and plausible sets.”

Michael O’Sullivan, Washington Post – “Big, slick and showy. It is also undeniably effective entertainment.”

Todd McCarthy, The Hollywood Reporter – “Will please fans of Sara Gruen’s best seller, but it lacks the vital spark that would have made the drama truly compelling on the screen.”

Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal – “How do I count the ways this movie goes wrong?”