I AM NUMBER FOUR is carrying on the new tradition of teen supernatural/sci-fi books to be adatatped onto the big screen. This first started with HARRY POTTER and carried on through the TWILIGHT SAGA. Along the way there have been various failures and small successes in this genre such as PERCY JACKSON & THE LIGHTENING THIEF (bad) and THE CITY OF EMBER (kinda good), I AM NUMBER FOUR sits squarely between these.
The film follows John (Alex Pettyfer/ALEX RIDER: STORMBREAKER) a teenage alien from the planet Lorien who, along with a small and special number of his race, are being hunted by Mogadorians. Each have their protectors and in John’s case it’s Henri (Timothy Olyphant/JUSTIFIED). Each time one of his fellow aliens is murdered, which they are done in order, by the Mogadorians a symbol is burned onto the leg of the survivors. So things kick off when John is lapping it up on some out the way Florida beach when he receives a third burning symbol on his leg, this means trouble as John is number four, hence the title. John and Henri hit the road and change their identity to evade capture ending up in small town America. John enrols in school where he meets the usual high school stereotypes including Sarah (Dianna Agron/GLEE) the romantic interest and Sam (Callan McAuliffe/FLIPPED), an alien buff whose father is missing and linked to the Mogadorians. He is soon tracked down by his predators and is forced to take a stand with the help of Number 6 (Teresa Palmer/THE SORCERER’S APPRENTICE).
The film is chocked with clichés and stereotypes seen a hundred times before in, not just these teeny film adaptations, but also every standard teen drama, O.C., ONE TREE HILL and SMALLVILLE especially SMALLVILLE with the super power elements attached to the film. The advantage the film could have had would have been if it was a TV series rather than a, possibly, one off film as the film never dives into any real depth, ignoring or glazing over the hard parts. The film’s action does not even help to elevate it above its contemporaries has they are overly chaotic and dull for the most part, ruined by great films of the same kind like SPIDERMAN.
One of my biggest gripes about the film, and a lot of these other types of films and TV shows, is that the lead is supposed to be 15/16ish where as Pettyfer looks to be at least 23, and straight away rips us out of the world as he looks totally unrealistic for the role. The supporting cast of Sarah and Sam are adequate in there roles but not particularly intersting. But Timothy Olyphant is terrific as always as the stern but comically at times father figure/protector which he has become so accustomed to in JUSTIFIED and THE CRAZIES.
As an enemy, the Mogadorians, are not threatening but, the Commander is slightly different with his fun cheery demeanour mixed with his violent actions, showing something possibly original but is not given enough time to develop. The trouble is that these destructive aliens are far too easily dispatched to pose any sort of danger and make the whole experience seem somewhat easy. Because of this there is no excitement for a future instalment.
I think I’ve pushed the idea across that there is nothing new or overly exciting about this possible franchise. The acting, story, expectations and action is dull and you might as well wait for THE AMAZING SPIDERMAN.
I AM NUMBER FOUR comes out Wednesday 23rd Feb.
