Leber, Phillips: ‘Remember Me’ not

CASEY PHILLIPS: It may seem picky to pass judgment on a movie based on its ending, but in the case of “Remember Me,” there’s no helping it. Writer Will Fetters’ and director Allen Coulter’s first foray into the film world ends on a shoøcking note that epitomizes the term “emotional sucker punch” and calls into question both men’s confidence in their ability to make you care about their story. Beyond this questionable denouement, “Remember Me” is a thoroughly vanilla romantic drama.

This is Robert Pattinson’s first major role after he donned pointy canines in the “Twilight” series, and his performance is passable, if uneven. He and Pierce Brosnan, here in a tumultuous father-and-son relationship, catapult unbelievably between brooding silences and violent outbursts. Somehow, even without the pale makeup and fangs, Pattinson still manages to come across as an emo with an annoying sense of entitlement.

HOLLY LEBER: This time, he’s biting the neck not of Kristen Stewart but of “Lost’s” Emilie de Ravin, who is once again running around an island of misguided souls. The two have a decent chemistry, but there’s a bit too much reliance on forced romance. It’s easy for two people to look hot together when there are close-ups of bare skin bathed in orange light or a girl in a wet tank top panting inches from an unshaven boy. In the moments when they are not about to pounce on each other, their interactions are lukewarm at best. They might be better suited to play lovers in a racy perfume ad rather than a two-hour movie.

Pattinson’s best scenes are with Ruby Jerins, as his shy, pre-adolescent sister. Despite his desire to separate himself from a privileged but troubled upbringing, he remains a devoted and protective older brother. There’s a real warmth and sweetness infused in their scenes. This behooves both Pattinson and his character, Tyler, who would have otherwise been a wholly insufferable twit.

CASEY: Chris Cooper is a fine actor, but he may be one of the most pigeonholed ones in the industry. As in seemingly all his roles, he plays a brooding father (de Ravin’s character’s), who has a troubled past and a violent temperament. Yawn.

“Remember Me” is not worthless, just flavorless. You’ll probably care a little, particularly about Jerins, but the last two minutes obliterate any hard-won sentimental attachment by launching a surprise attack on your feelin’ bone.

HOLLY: The ending of the movie was manipulative, unnecessary and showed a complete lack of faith in itself. Here’s a tip, filmmakers: If you scream out that you don’t think the first 99 percent of your work is good enough to not have to tack on an emotional kick in the crotch at the end, I’m not going to think it has much merit either.

CASEY: Remember you? I’d rather not.

REVIEWEDrt Pattinson, Emilie de Ravin, Chris Cooper and Pierce Brosnan.

* Rating: PG-13 for violence, sexual content, language and smoking.

* Synopsis: A bereaved, violent youth falls in love with the equally troubled daughter of a police chief who violently arrested him.