Thanks for checking out our I am Number Four Review
Genre: Action Scifi
Directed by: D.J. Caruso
Staring: Alex Pettyfer, Timothy Olyphant and Dianna Agron, Teresa Palmer
Released: February 18th, DVD – May 24th 2011
THE GENERAL IDEA
An extraordinary young man, John Smith (Alex Pettyfer), who is a fugitive on the run from ruthless enemies sent to destroy him. Changing his identity, moving from town to town with his guardian Henri (Timothy Olyphant), John is always the new kid with no ties to his past. In the small Ohio town he now calls home, John encounters unexpected, life-changing events—his first love (Dianna Agron), powerful new abilities and a connection to the others who share his incredible destiny.
John (Alex Pettyfer) is an extraordinary young man, masking his true identity and passing as a typical student to elude a deadly enemy seeking to destroy him. Three like him have already been killed…he is Number Four
THE GOOD
Timothy Olyphant once again impressed the crap out of me. This role was still an authoritative role (which he is so good at) but this one is more fatherly, and more the mentor guardian type. It was refreshing to see him “tired” instead of always on top of the situation.
Alex Pettyfer is surprisingly the best part of this film. His ease to slip into action scenes and show the struggle as he learns what it really means to be “extraordinary” is great.
There is a lot of great action in this film and the effects back it up nicely. The blend of the alien bounty hunters against the backdrop of a simple smalltown setting works well and sets the tone for an awesome story.
THE BAD
There is a lot that works well with this that just illustrates how much better the novel must have been. So much backstory and lore that I can see a lot of potential that just didn’t find its depth on screen.
The love interest Diana Agron might just ooze charm and appeal on Glee, but somehow here she is just a normal pretty girl. I didn’t find his crush on her to be deserving of the devotion he struggles with. In many films we suspend our disbelief to accept an accellerated love and instant connection but I just didn’t feel it here.
Teresa Palmer’s character was completely useless here. She is just teased in and we are left wondering who’s side she is on until the end. I think she would have been better saved for a sequel. Her involvement just felt forced and her character lacked depth because of it – which is a shame, because when you really do “meet” who she is and what she can do, she looks like an awesome character.
OVERALL
Most of what I didn’t like about this movie really feels like it was just poorly adapted. There appears to be a lot of potential in the backstory that just falls short in the storytelling of a 90 minute film.
I give I am Number Four a 5 out of 10
