They walk among us.You may be thinking, aliens right? Well, sort of. But “I Am Number Four” (based on the novel of the same name by Pittacus Lore) is a dramatic twist on the old aliens-come-to-earth plotline.
Directed by D.J. Caruso, the film introduces us to “John Smith,” a boy on the run who is really not as normal as he seems.
We learn, over time, that John is a Lorien-an alien who was born (along with nine others) to be warriors in order to protect their people.
However, their planet was invaded by the Mogadorians, aliens who live only to invade and destroy other planets. The nine Lorien warrior children were the only ones to survive and escape onto earth. However, the Mogadorians have followed them and intend to kill them, before enslaving the entire human race.
After their position has been compromised, John and his Guardian, Henri, move to Paradise: a rainy, small town in Ohio. As John attempts to keep a low profile, he meets Sam; a young boy who is constantly bullied because of his deceased father’s far out conspiracy theories. John stands up for him several times and the two become friends.
He also meets Sarah Hart, a photographer, with whom he soon falls in love. As their romance blossoms, Sarah seems to see straight through John’s lies about his past. Meanwhile, her ex-, Mark (the school bully and star athlete) threatens John in an attempt to get him away from Sarah. This attempt, however, does not keep John away for long.
But when Mark and his friends kidnap Sarah and John, attempting to scare John away from Sarah and Sarah back into Mark’s arms, John unlocks some of his alien powers-not only scaring away Mark, but also revealing to Sam (who heard the commotion and was rushing to help) that he is much more than human.
While John confides in Sam about his true past, the police become suspicious after Mark and his friends show up at the hospital with plenty of bumps and bruises as proof that John is more than he seems. And, after a video of John using his powers surfaces on the Internet, Henri tries to force John to leave Paradise.
But John, already connected with Sarah, refuses. Meanwhile, the Mogadorians have picked up John’s scent, drawing nearer to Ohio, preparing to lure him into a trap. At the same time, Number Six, another Lorien warrior, is also on John’s trail-hoping, with his help, to gather the others of their kind to destroy the Mogadorians once and for all.
“I Am Number Four” was full of mixed feelings for me. At times, it felt contrived-as though it was trying much too hard. It felt a bit cliché at times too, as the idea of supernatural teens with magnificent powers is not exactly original.
The Mogadorians were also kind of disappointing. They didn’t feel as threatening and original as I would’ve liked; they seemed more like second hand minions that you could find in just about any other sci-fi film.
Still, I felt that the three leads (Alex Pettyfer as John; Callan McAuliffe as Sam; Diana Argon as Sarah) were all very fresh and likeable. The soundtrack was also sublime, utilizing popular artists like Adele and the Black Keys.
So, while “Number Four” may not be the most original movie, it’s surely an enjoyable ride and worth seeing (even if you don’t feel the need to see it more than once).