In the opening sequences of the film we fall witnesses to Ali's mother being shot on a subway ramp in front of her daughter and discover her father is a police officer. Fast forwarding years later we meet Tyler who is an emotional wreck with a dysfunctional family including a father who works too much and a younger sister who is picked on at school and looks for affirmation from her father and receives none. We soon discover that his brother, Matthew, committed suiced years earlier. Tyler soon gets into trouble with the authorities with his best friend Aidon and encounters Ali's father. Soon after through a stroke of fate Tyler meets Ali and a relationship blooms.
Remember Me is a romance drama set in New York. It really is have drama and half romance and part comedy. From the beginning to the end we are faced with gritty reality and it never really pulls back. The characters pasts are tragic and the families are dysfunctional. Tyler's dad is always working with never enough time for his family. His younger sister is a child prodegy when it comes to art and Tyler is a complete emotional wreck. Then there is Ali's family. She has done well considering witnessing her mother's death but her father goes to extremes if anything with his daughter is out of place. There are a lot of characters but they all fit well in the story and bring to the screen a depiction of life that we often don't wish to see ... the one that's really there.
If anything, amidst the angst and chaos Remember Me is a character piece. Each character is unique and brought to the screen with emotional depth. It has been considered a romance drama but I found there to be more drama than romance throughout the film. It became necessary for characters to finally deal with past events in their life and mend broken relationships with their family. Most often we can understand where these characters are coming from and emphathize with them, feeling strong emotions to what we want to happen, often at which times do.
Ultimately this film was a surprise. With Robert Pattinson in the leading role and the recent phenomenon of Twilight, no one really seems to think he can act anymore. On top of this, Remember Me has been marketed more as a romance than anything, a poor move in my opinion that will bring in far too many angsty tweens and possibly leaving them dissapointed to find he isn't playing the brooding and lover obsessed Edward Cullen. It's a fresh break for Pattinson from tween angst to prove he might actually have some acting chops.
Remember Me is a film that will leave you intrigued by the characters and drawn into it's world all while leading up to the unexpected ending. It's a pleasant surprise from the film many people thought would just be another Robert Pattinson romance film.
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