Bit of old Hollywood in ‘Elephants’

Available this week on DVD:

“Water for Elephants”: Steamy and sexy with a smack of sadism, this atmospheric adaptation of the Sara Gruen novel is a throwback to old-school Hollywood action/romance. Robert Pattinson, Reese Witherspoon and Christoph Waltz co-star as a veterinarian, a trick rider and an unstable ringmaster struggling to save a financially ailing circus during the Depression. (2:00; PG-13 for moments of intense violence and sexual content) • • •

“Crazy, Stupid, Love”: Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone are perfection as Hot Guy and Indifferent Girl in this family-friendly romantic farce that co-stars Steve Carell and Julianne Moore as Undemonstrative Husband and Disappointed Wife. (1:47; PG-13 for coarse humor, sexual content and language) • • •

“Cars 2”: Mater (voice of Larry the Cable Guy), the little tow truck who could, is the hero of this sequel to the movie widely considered the lemon in the Pixar cornucopia. Despite Mater’s bucktoothed charm, director John Lasseter fails to turn this globe-trotting sequel into lemonade. (1:53; rated G) • • • 1/2

“Snow Flower and the Secret Fan”: Two girls in 19th century China develop a secret code to cope with the rigid cultural norms imposed on women. (2:00; PG-13 for sexuality, violence/disturbing images and drug use)

“Tabloid”: Documentary about a former Miss Wyoming charged with abducting and imprisoning a young Mormon missionary. (1:21; R for sexual content and nudity)