I AM NUMBER FOUR (REVIEW)
Rated M - 109 mins
Alex Pettyfer, Timothy Olyphant, Dianna Agron, Jake Abel, Kevin Durand,
Teresa Palmer
From the outset, this lightweight fantasy demonstrates
little logic with plot holes galore, but the premise remains hugely
entertaining disguising constant flaws.
Based on a young adult novel series from author Pittacus
Lore. Thankfully the story doesn't involve vampires, but an alien race
who inhabit various areas on Earth. Their true identities are masked
to look like typical teenagers, but the chosen ones are actually a series
of chronological numbers.The alien, or teen Adonis known as number four,
is used to moving around with his mentor Henri and at their latest destination,
his name is the very original, John Smith.
In other parts of the globe, numbers one, two and three
have all been assassinated, supposedly by a group of evil alien foot
soldiers called Mogadorians. These destructive extra terrestrials are
an ugly bunch, deeply scarred with gill like slits to the sides of their
irregular nose. Kevin Durand is suitably vile as the gruesome commander.
As the hunted can only be killed in sequence, number four is next on
the hit list and they will stop at nothing to sound the death knell.
While instructed to blend in and stay incognito, new kid
at school John Smith makes friends and enemies almost the minute he
arrives. The jocks versus nerds routine makes John stand up for an innocent
victim of harassment, in turn catching the eye of beautiful high school
photographer Sarah (Dianna Agron of GLEE fame). Being a fabricated human
on the outside, number four should not fall in love with a real human,
but he does. This only complicates John Smith's heart and mind, which
is also coming to terms with defining powers he is beginning to understand
and use with force when needed.
Like an episode of Smallville on a massive budget, the
Superman comparison is more than evident throughout. Innocents on the
run, a deadly enemy out to destroy him and delusional acts of love that
defy unwritten rules of his home planet. Action is at a premium and
gratifying, stunts with A -grade digital effects are effective in an
over the top way, it's the jumps in screenplay with unexplained reasoning
that remains the colossal downfall.
Relative newcomer Alex Pettyfer does an admirable job
as number four, he cruises around with the never quite explained palms
that are like high powered flashlights that among other things, stop
moving vehicles. With true blue accent intact, Australian Teresa Palmer
as number six drops by to assist four. Atop a motorcycle, her fighting
skills and cool moves are a highlight in more ways than one.
Shane
A. Bassett
