Film Review: I Am Number Four (2011)

At the beginning of the last decade, Hollywood studios appeared to have discovered a lucrative alternative to superhero comic book adaptations. The success of Twilight demonstrated that young adult speculative fiction novels, particularly those structured as multi-part series, could be a winning formula. These adaptations benefitted from a built-in fan base among teenagers, who were increasingly becoming the primary demographic for major studios. However, it quickly became apparent that not all film series based on such novels were created equal; many turned into significant disappointments. One such example is I Am Number Four, a 2011 science fiction film directed by D.J. Caruso.

The film is adapted from the eponymous best-selling novel published in 2010 by Pittacus Lore, a pseudonym for authors James Frey and Jobie Hughes. Frey had previously gained notoriety for his controversial memoir A Million Little Pieces, which sparked a scandal involving Oprah Winfrey. Regardless of the authors' pasts, the novel found success and spawned six sequels collectively known as the Lorien Legacies.

In I Am Number Four, the titular character, portrayed by Alex Pettyfer, is a human-like alien who fled to Earth from the planet Lorien to escape the Mogadorians, who had invaded and destroyed his home world. The Mogadorians also pursue him on Earth to eliminate all refugees. The protagonist, who adopts the name “John Smith,” survives into his teenage years with the guidance of his guardian Henri (played by Timothy Olyphant), who instructs him on how to conceal his identity and integrate with humans. As John navigates life in a small town called Paradise, Ohio, he grapples with the reality that he is next in line to be hunted after three other refugees have already been killed. Enrolling in high school complicates matters further when he falls for classmate Sarah Hart (played by Dianna Agron) and befriends nerdy Sam Goode (played by Callan McAuliffe). This budding romance and conflicts with school bullies ultimately lead John to discover and reveal his superhuman abilities, setting the stage for an inevitable confrontation with the Mogadorians.

Despite its intriguing premise, I Am Number Four relies on a concept that lacks originality: a protagonist with superpowers who must hide them to survive. This narrative has been explored in other films such as Jumper and Push, both of which similarly failed to establish successful franchises.

Produced by Michael Bay, I Am Number Four initially appears more ambitious and polished than its predecessors. Unfortunately, it suffers from numerous questionable creative decisions. The script seems overly intent on mimicking the Twilight formula, dedicating almost half of its runtime to a poorly executed romantic subplot. This is compounded by a palpable lack of chemistry between Pettyfer and Agron, despite their real-life relationship.

The casting choices also fall short; Pettyfer appears too mature to convincingly portray a teenager. In contrast, Kevin Durand’s portrayal of the sinister Mogadorian villain is marked by overacting. Timothy Olyphant brings some depth to his role as John’s mentor, yet his character’s disappearance from the narrative occurs far too early.

D.J. Caruso manages to enhance the film somewhat in its second half by increasing the focus on action sequences. This results in a series of engaging scenes bolstered by commendable CGI effects, even though many occur at night. Australian actress Teresa Palmer shines as Number Six, emerging as an effective action heroine despite her late introduction into the story—a move clearly designed to pave the way for future sequels that would better explore her character.

Although I Am Number Four achieved decent box office results upon release, critics were largely unfavourable towards it—most notably among fans of the original book series. Plans for a sequel were quietly shelved, and in the interim, the box office landscape shifted dramatically; young adult speculative fiction film sagas have since waned in popularity. Should the Lorien Legacies receive new adaptations for screen, it is more likely they will take form as streaming series rather than theatrical releases.

RATING: 4/10 (+)

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