Movie review: 'I Am Number Four'

If he was not hunted by a group of creepy-looking enemies, teenager John Smith (Alex Pettyfer) would have everything he wants in life. Instead, he and his guardian Henri (Timothy Olyphant) have to change identities and move from town to town. When they arrive in Paradise, Ohio, John tries to blend in. He falls in love with Sarah (Dianna Agron) and discovers that he has more abilities than he had ever thought possible...

Why were "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "Twilight," "Smallville" and "Jumper" so successful? Mostly because of the way they portray struggling teenagers with secret powers through attractive characters, quirky senses of humor and great plots full of angst and pent-up sexual tension — something to which a lot of young adults can relate these days. "I Am Number Four" has almost none of that. It is just a mediocre and clichéd attempt at recreating the magic of its predecessors.

The movie boasts some great special effects and action. However, they cannot prevent the story from falling flat on its face right from the beginning. The movie drags its feet for almost 90 minutes before reaching an unemotional and predictable ending.

Yet, the biggest flaw of "I Am Number Four" lies in its actors, who seem to have been chosen for their good looks rather than their artistic skills. Of course, Pettyfer and Agron make a lovely couple but they are nowhere near Twilight heartthrobs Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart in the chemistry department. Pettyfer, in particular, is so distant from his character that he completely fails to engage us in his emotional dilemmas. And the usually intense Olyphant seems unable to shake himself off his apparent boredom. Only Callan McAuliffe (Sam) prevents the movie from completely drowning with his timely and funny repartees and his perfect nerdiness.

"I Am Number Four" simply does not deliver.

About "I Am Number Four"

Director: D.J. Caruso

Screenwriters: Alfred Gough, Miles Millar and Marti Noxon.

Producer: Michael Bay

Cast: Alex Pettyfer, Timothy Olyphant, Teresa Palmer, Dianna Agron and Callan McAuliffe.

Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, and for language.

"I Am Number Four" (2011) is available for purchase on DVD and Blu-ray. Click here to visit the official Website.

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Cendrine Marrouat is a freelance writer/reviewer, blogger, published author and translator living in Canada. Official Website: http://www.cendrinemarrouat.com