(12A) 112min

His role as the sulky Edward in the Twilight films helped make the vampire franchise a hit, but can a de-fanged Robert Pattinson make it as a star? The box-office belly flop suffered by Allen Coulter’s clunky, overwrought drama in America suggests otherwise, and as executive producer Pattinson must shoulder some of the blame.

‘RPatz’ as the tabloids have dubbed him, plays Tyler Hawkins, a misfit New Yorker who unwisely gets into a punch-up with police sergeant Neil Craig (Chris Cooper). Rebelling against the plans of his rich father (Pierce Brosnan), Tyler revenges himself by dating the cop’s daughter Ally (Emilie de Ravin) on a bet. The couple quickly bond over separate family tragedies, unaware that a further catastrophe looms ahead.

Screenwriter Will Fetters’ use of real-life events from the 9/11 attacks as plot points, to add weight to a fairly soap opera-ish story, feels opportunistic rather than apposite. Pitching for unearned gravitas, Remember Me is memorable only for its crass attempt to exploit genuine tragedy for entertainment purposes.

General release from Fri 2 Apr.