Dir. DJ Caruso , USA , 2011, 110mins
Cast: Alex Pettyfer, Timothy Olyphant, Kevin Durand, Theresa Palmer, Dianna Agron
Review by Matthew Rodgers
Every adaptation of a teen skewed novel that comes along is currently tarnished with the preconceptions associated with Twilight or Harry Potter , and the relative failure of similar fare such as Percy Jackson . This means that this adaptation of Jobie Hughes’ and James Fray’s (writing as fictional Sci-Fi author Pittacus Lore) novel could be received with some trepidation.
Well fear not. There is an opening fifteen minutes that comes across like an episode of Sweet Valley High that wasn’t aired and which tempts one to exit the cinema early. But I Am Number Four finds its stride and morphs into a wonderful, franchise launching action movie.
Stormbreaker’s Alex Pettyfer is John, Number Four of eleven people that make up the Garde, a group of alien teenagers with special powers who are hiding on Earth. John is on the run with his Guardian Henri (Timothy Olyphant), all the while being hunted by the evil Mogadorians, an enemy race intent on killing the Garde in chronological order. So at a time when John is struggling with finding his own identity and juggling his feelings for the school bully’s ex-girlfriend (Dianna Agron, Glee ), his number is up and destiny comes knocking.
It’s no surprise that Steven Spielberg is on board as producer, as this has all the hallmarks of his best solo efforts: young alien with abandonment issues being pursued by shady enemies against a background of special effects gluttony. In fact it’s a little like the first Transformers movie (on which “ the beard ” had a marked influence that was noticeably absent from the terrible sequel). It’s not as huge or successful, but at its core completely charming in a “boys own adventure” kind of way.
On the down side, a lot of the mythology set-up is frustratingly unanswered. What’s in the glowing silver box? Where are John’s parents? And any that is explained is glossed over all too quickly, like the fact that members of his race will only ever love one person in a lifetime, dropped in during a breathless exchange towards the finale and left dangling for what would be a welcome sequel.
Much of the infectious kineticism is down to the enthusiastic cast. Pettyfer is unrecognisable from the bleach blond lad who headlined the aforementioned spy dud. Here he more than holds his own and is growing into a heroic lead. Olyphant continues to demand a lead role outside of his fantastic TV vehicle, Justified. He is on cruise control here but his presence is always welcome.
The action is also terrific, although sparingly scattered throughout the film for budgetary reasons. When the school based smackdown begins, featuring all sorts of beasties and bad guys, it’s like Star Wars via Scott Pilgrim and eradicates any nit-picking you may have with the hokum of the plot.
I am Number Four’s aim is simply to entertain, and in that department it does, so much so that I agree, you are number four, 4 out of 5!
