Tyler is a troubled, misunderstood guy who is reeling from his brother's suicide. His dad is unaffectionate to him and his little sister Caroline and is always busy at work. At a night out with his best friend, he gets into an altercation and he is arrested by a cop, Neil. After being bailed out by his dad, their relationship becomes even more strained as the two argue about Tyler's aggressive behavior and lack of direction. When Tyler's best friend learns that Neil's daughter Ally goes to the same college, he pushes Tyler to date her and dump her as a means of revenge against Neil. However, when they hangout, they fall in love. Because of Ally, Tyler learns to become more focused and comes to terms with his brother's death. When Ally learns of the bet, she hates Tyler but is later convinced by the best friend that it was all his idea. They reconcile. Tyler also slowly makes peace with his dad. While waiting for his dad at his office, it is revealed that he is in the World Trade Center on 9/11.
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Best part of story, including ending:
Poetic ending after everything in Tyler's life is finally resolved.
Best scene in story:
The camera pans out from the window of the World Trade Center.
Opinion about the main character:
Tyler's tough exterior is just a mask for his sadness and depression.
This is a story about how young people deal with the sudden surprising deaths of the ones they love. Emile de Ravin plays the character of Ally. Ally saw her mother killed by muggers on a subway platform in New York when she was 12. Even though her father Neil (played by Chris Cooper) is a cop he was not able to stop the tragic death of her mother, so this means since the time of this tragedy, Neil is overly-protective of his daughter Ally.
A decade later Ally goes to NYU where she meets Tyler Hawkins (played by Robert Pattinson). Tyler is a depressed young man because his brother, who he loved dearly, committed suicide. After his brother killed himself Tyler got his brother's name of Michael tattooed on his chest to remember him. Tyler writes to his brother Michael by way of making notes in his journal. Tyler is very protective of his younger sister Caroline (played by Ruby Jerins). Tyler's father Charles (played by Pierce Brosnan) is a successful businessman, that seems to always be too busy and does not have a strong connection with his children. Tyler has one good friend which is Aiden (played by Tate Ellington).
When Aiden and Tyler are hanging out in the streets, they are arrested by Ally's father Charles. They get out of jail and then later Aiden sees Ally being dropped off at NYU by Charles so he comes up with a plan to get Tyler to hook-up with Ally then dump her to get even with her father. Ally and Tyler get to know each other better, which rapidly turns into true love. They bond together closely over the pain they each felt when they lost ones they loved so much, especially when their deaths happened so suddenly without warning. This common experience makes them relate to each other very strongly. Charles finds out about the relationship between Tyler and his daughter Ally and does everything he can to break it up, including getting Tyler to admit it was part of his plan with Aiden to get even with Charles by dumping Ally after she fell for him. Ally gets confused by all of this and breaks up with Tyler.
Aiden goes to Ally and tells her the truth that Tyler really does love her no matter what the original plan might have been. But before Ally and Tyler can get back together again, Tyler is killed in the attack on the World Trade Center. Tyler is buried next to his brother Michael.
Best part of story, including ending:
This film is very sad. It shows how hard it is to deal with tragic deaths that happen without warning.
Best scene in story:
I like it when Tyler stands up for his sister Caroline and fights the bullies that are harassing her.
Opinion about the main character:
Ally loses everyone she loves, and this is really sad, but somehow she has the inner strength to continue on.
