I Am Number Four Cinema Review

There are some powerful action sequences in this fun, if slightly daft juvenile sci-fi thriller about a teenager’s struggle with that age old dilemma of wanting to live an ordinary existence while under obligation to save the World from destructive aliens.

Based on the New York Times best-selling Sci-fi book by Pittacus Lore, I Am Number Four follows the story of John Smith (Alex Pettyfer), one of nine teenage aliens from the planet Lorien living on Earth.  Each Lorien has special powers and are protected by a charm so they can only be killed in a predefined order.

Along with his guardian Henri (Timophy Olyphant) Number Four is on the run from the Mogadorians, another species of Aliens who are hunting down the nine Loriens one by one. Henri and Number Four are required to move from town to town anonymously and setting down roots is a definite no no.  It is in a small Ohio town that they fling down their hats and it is here that Number Four’s powers, and willpower, are tested to the hilt.

In order to blend in Number Four attends school and it is here that he falls for the shy Sarah (Glee’s Dianna Agron) who runs around taking photographs and doing little else. He also discovers with surprise that he can catapult people at will via his kinetic powers, signalled by a bright light in his palms.

The action begins too late and there is not enough of it, but when it arrives it packs some punches. It really gets going when the Mogadorian’s (or Mogs if you are on familiar terms) arrive in town and set about testing Number Four’s mettle. The Mogs – who resemble angry piranhas on legs – certainly kick things into gear but by then anyone over 17 years old may well have lost interest.  

Only with the help of the remaining Loriens can Number Four defeat the enemy. “We are the last of our kind, they are hunting us down one by one”.  Cue sequels.
Directed by D.J. Caruso (Eagle Eye, Disturbia) Number Four’s central teen romance, filled with angst and irreconcilable differences seems sets to draw the Twilight crowd and perhaps this was the idea all along.  Number Four is highly watchable with good performances all round. The actions scenes are particularly absorbing but they are too little too late. 

12A cert, 109 min