I Am Number Four

The teen thriller is a genre that will probably never go away despite its multiple problems and obvious failures. The latest is I Am Number Four, which is a step in the right direction. And while I Am Number Four isn’t exactly perfect, it is definitely an honest and rather entertaining effort from director DJ Caruso (Disturbia).

Based on the best-selling novel by Pittacus Lore, the film stars Alex Pettyfer (Beastly) as Number Four, an alien with magical powers. He is hiding on Earth from Mogadorians, another race of aliens who want to kill him and have killed Numbers One, Two and Three. He and his handler Henri (Timothy Olyphant, Justified) try to blend into Paradise, Ohio, where Number Four (now under the alias John Smith) meets local outcast Sarah (Dianna Agron, Glee) and the two begin a simple courtship. Number Four/John has to figure out how to escape from the Mogadorians while also trying to navigate the horrors of suburban high school.

The movie definitely succeeds in the thriller department. The action sequences are brisk, exciting and suspenseful. But the other parts of the movie falter a little bit. The relationship between Number Four and Sarah could have been developed a little more as could have the subplot regarding Number Four’s only school friend Sam (Callan McAuliffe, Flipped). Other than that, the movie does what it sets out to do: provide an enjoyable and thrilling ride.

Pettyfer has potential to become a good actor. Agron is also full of potential. Olyphant and Teresa Palmer (Take Me Home Tonight), as Number Six, steal the show.

Picture & Audio

The movie looks and sounds great. The action scenes are crisp and somewhat exciting. The hi-def transfer emphasizes the beautiful cast and the novel cinematography. The background score can get a little heavy handed and intrusive.

Special Features
The extras include several deleted scenes. The most notable one features Karen Allen (the Indiana Jones films) as Sam’s mother. There is also a featurette about Teresa Palmer and character Number Six. The mini-doc is interesting since Number Six doesn’t really have a huge part until the end.

Finally, there’s a cute blooper reel which shows how much fun was had on set. Finally, the Blu-ray also features the DVD version of the film as well as a code for a digital copy to play on your home computer.