I must admit to you, my readers, that I just couldn't stop thinking of the countless disposable sci-fi films I watched as a growing teen in the 1980s, when I sat down to screen this sci-fi adventure film, based on the young adult novel of the same name.
Number Four Disposable Fare for the New Century
Indeed, very much like its decades-old cousins, I'm thinking Mac and Me, Starman, Flight of the Navigator and such, I Am Number Four seemed to sideswipe much about back story, this time in order to focus its attention on the budding love story between Number Four/Daniel/John (some of lead actor Alex Pettyfer's various names in the film), a surviving member of the Lorien race, and brainy but independent high school photographer Sarah Hart (Dianna Agron, TV's Glee).
Forget the fact that there are alien humanoids among us, or that despite their extraordinary powers and knowledge, they still seem limited to the use of modern-day Macs and PCs and iPhones. We're told that some evil race called the Mogadorians (sharp toothed, trench coat wearing tattooed space villains) are out to destroy Loriens, even if there are only about 8 or 9 of them left, hiding on Earth.
The film makes very little effort to explain the cause or reason of this intergalactic strife, save to state that the "Mogs" are known for destroying, not conquering. Three Loriens have already been hunted down, putting John next on the list. Add to this the crabby, no-nonsense alien mentor (Timothy Olyphant), a ridiculed fellow student obsessed with UFOs and alien life, and a mysterious blonde babe (Teresa Palmer) who shares traits with John, and you've got yourself a solid framework for a supernatural teen story, not unlike its many cinematic cousins of late.
Seems pretty straightforward, right?
High School Soap Opera and Science Fiction Don't Always Mesh
Anyone who's been watching fare such as The Vampire Diaries or Twilight must feel that putting supernatural beings (or in this case, a super powered alien) into a recognizable social setting is a sure-fire way to attract like-minded audience who will readily identify with the characters and their sense of alienation (read: every teen who's ever survived high school cliques). So why doesn't it seem to work in I Am Number Four?
Frankly, I attribute the film's failure to a sense of indecision as to how to sell the film as well as a failed attempt to put too many genre eggs in the same basket. By trying to capitalize on the teen rich YA readership out there, this Michael Bay produced tale comes off as yet another contender in an otherwise already overcrowded market.
It's said this film was the first of a planned series of six films. Personally, I just hope the Mogs find the rest of these Loriens and move on.
I Am Number Four Blu-Ray: 2 out of 5
Dominic Messier - Dominic Messier is a Toronto-based Film & TV writer, Sci-Fi TV and Film Dramas Topic Editor, and creator of PopCultureLandscape.com
