Endless love: Pretty and predictable

The same applies to this take-away teen movie with its predictable plot and low age restriction. Heaven help any parent who has to accompany a child under 10 to this schmaltzy love story, as parents, especially in the form of father-from-hell Bruce Greenwood, spoil many intended sex scenes.

Most adults in this film are boring spoilsports – frowning, stupid nerds straight from the famous Zits cartoon, denying others the freedom of exploring love and, without much motivation, putting obstacles in their paths to fulfilment.

A poor little rich girl falls in love with a wayward, handsome hunk who loves taking off his shirt and living outside society’s stifling adult norms.

Alex Pettyfer provides enough six-pack eye candy to make any teenage girl forget about her cellphone for a few seconds. His rich lover is played by Gabriella Wilde, who gave a decent performance in the remake of Carrie. But here she isn’t given enough to work with and struggles to breathe life into a shallow character.

Once the two star-crossed lo-vers meet you know exactly how it will end. This is a remake of the Brooke Shields/Franco Zeffirelli tearjerker of the same name in which Tom Cruise made his debut in a small role in 1981 – featuring beautiful people suffering in marvellous narcissistic close-ups, as cool music provides a comfortable background for glamorous teenage troubles.

The film is pretty, superficially enjoyable and comfortably attractive enough for any red-blooded teenager bored stiff with the long weekend – but it may prove nauseating to anyone older than 30.