Put-up-or-shut-up time for Robert Pattinson is not officially scheduled until the sun finally sets on the Twilight phenomenon.
So fair play to the British heart-throb for skipping well ahead of the program and testing himself in trying circumstances for Remember Me.
Obviously very eager to prove he is more than just a poster-friendly face, Pattinson is on a mission here to flash some legit acting credentials.
In spite of the odd awkward moment in Remember Me, even the most churlish observer will have to admit the guy has got what it takes to stick around a while in this business.
In terms of story and style, Remember Me is best described as a dirty, downbeat distant relative of Dear John. Both films share the same turn-of-the-last-decade timeframe, and exploit a delicately distressed romance to simultaneously warm the heart and empty the tear ducts.
Pattinson plays Tyler Hawkins, a poor little rich boy student-slumming it in a grotty New York apartment to get back at his heartless tycoon of a dad (Pierce Brosnan).
Early on, heavy hints are dropped that Tyler has other, non-parent-baiting reasons for being such a chain-smoking, binge-drinking, babe-slaying no-hoper.
All will adequately explained in the fullness of time, particularly once Tyler softens up his hard-man act to start a relationship with cute classmate Ally (Emilie de Ravin).
In the interest of added complications, it also turns out that Tyler recently had a run-in with Ally’s father, a tough New York cop (Chris Cooper). Naturally, Tyler keeps this sensitive matter a secret until the worst possible moment.
So far, so relatively predictable then. Or so you would think. To be honest, Remember Me gets quite good quite quickly once it completes the business of sketching out its familiar storyline.
A good deal of time is spent getting to the bottom of Tyler and Ally’s respective family problems, and the payoff earned is genuinely compelling. And sincerely moving, too. The pairing of Pattinson with de Ravin is the key here. In their many scenes together, the stars effectively channel that unique "you and me against the world" vibe that young lovers everywhere know so well.
It is only when Pattinson breaks free of his leading lady’s intense gravitational pull that he sometimes misjudges his performance and tries some of James Dean’s old moves.
A scene where Tyler bursts into the school of his younger sister and roughs up one of her bullying classmates is an absolute howler. Then again, perhaps the script can be blamed. Not even Sean Penn at the height of his powers would have found a way to emerge with his dignity intact.
All in all, Remember Me is a faintly memorable romantic drama that proves there are bigger, better and not so pale-and-precious things to come from Robert Pattinson.
Rating: 3 Stars out of five.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/special-reports/film-review-remember-me/story-e6frf8r6-1225839259838
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