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Poster for The Elephant King

The Elephant King

2006 · 1h 32m · R Drama, Romance
Directed by Seth Grossman

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Overview

The story of two brothers who lead totally different lives. Jake Hunt enjoys life to the fullest in Thailand, while his shy brother Oliver deals with his own depressions back home in the USA. Their dominant mother wants Jake back home and for this reason, Oliver is sent to Thailand to retrieve his brother. Once there, Oliver finds himself in Jake's bizarre life and falls in love with a beautiful girl, Lek. However, it is not a coincidence that she and Oliver have met

Director and cast

Critics on Rotten Tomatoes

Top critics, in their words

All reviews
18%
Tomatometer
Rotten

erhaps a bit of star power, or at least less generic actors in the leads, might have given these underdeveloped siblings more credence or appeal.

Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times
Rotten

Director-writer Seth Grossman provides a lazy narrative, with stereotypical characters and plot. You just know what's going to happen, although the statuesque Faivre might take your mind off the shortcomings.

V.A. Musetto, New York Post
Fresh

There is in fact an elephant in The Elephant King, but his keepers are far from royal.

Nathan Lee, New York Times
Rotten

Naivete drives the characters and the filmmaking -- a lethal combination for a movie that's desperate to come across as world-weary and wise.

Stephen Garrett, Time Out New York
Rotten

Equivalent to a crummy band with a monster of a drummer who convinces you to stay for the whole show anyways.

Nick Pinkerton, Village Voice

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