I AM NUMBER FOUR
US, 2011, 109 minutes, Colour.
Alex Pettyfer, Timothy Olyphant, Teresa Palmer, Diana Agronn, Callum Mc Auliffe, Kevin Durand, Jake Abel.
Directed by D.J, Caruso.
As this science-fiction cum high school romance for teenage audiences continued on, I found that my inner adolescent was touched and I rather enjoyed it.
By now, there must be theses being written all over the world on the popularity of the teenage action/romance movies and what are the ingredients for this popularity. The Twilight series comes to mind while watching this one, though ethereal vampires are much less exciting than the rugged Number Four (John Smith among many other names). 2010 saw Tomorrow When the War Began and I am Number Four could stand some comparisons with the battles against intruding troops, real in Tomorrow, Aliens in Number Four. Director D.J. Caruso made some adult thriller like The Salton Sea and Taking Sides. However, he moved into this current genre with Eagle Eye where the young Shia La Boeuf is being pursued by ominisurveillant enemies.
Apart from an eerie opening where menacing aliens dispose of a young man, the early part of the film is high school stuff, parties on Florida islands, high school hijinks, rivalries, bullying, attractions and misunderstandings and a potential rotter of a smug campus villain (whose father is the sheriff). You know there is going to be action, but this goes on for rather a while, establishing character, of course, and setting up the final confrontation.
Actually, this is rather like one of those films which have Soviet sleepers nicely ensconced in small town America waiting for the day that they are activated. But, this time, the sleepers are isolated youngsters from another planet, ten in all, who have the power to resist the evil aliens from their planet who are ambitious for, yes, world domination. The opening of the film is the death of Number Three, so our story is about Number Four and his guardian.
Number Four is played with some vigour by Alex Pettyfer. He is fit and strong-jawed, the opposite of Robert Pattinson’s pasty and vapid vampire, Edward. It is easy to see why Sarah, whose hobby is photography, should fall for him. He also befriends Sam (Callum McCauliffe) whose father has disappeared, probably abducted by the vicious aliens who felt that his researches were getting too close to them. Timothy Olyphant is Number Four’s very serious mentor and guardian. And there is a nice dog.
Then, the action starts, rather computer game like, but quite engrossing in its expected way. To the rescue comes an Amazonian heroine, blasting everyone in her way – these youngsters have increasingly superhuman powers (think The Fantastic Four). She is Jane Doe, Number Six, played with all stops out by Teresa Palmer. She sounds and looks like a young Naomi Watts (as she has in her other appearances) but could have called herself Nellie Melba or some such because she has retained her Australian accent – great to see the Australian alien coming to the rescue of the American alien, and female to boot. It becomes a touch ludicrous when animal monsters appear (including the pet dog) and scuffle, growl and bit to the death. But, monsters and monstrous aliens all immediately disintegrate when they are destroyed, so there is not much blood around.
Based on a novel by Pittacus Lore (now, there’s a name), this adventure has the potential for a movie franchise. Spoiler: the good aliens go up to Number Ten!
1. The popularity of Young Adult literature? Male and female heroes? Society? Alien invasions?
2. The title, before, Alex Pettifer in the role, a series of heroes, sleepers on earth, to defend against the attack of the evil aliens?
3. Contemporary America, Florida, the home? The beachside hut? The photography, on the Internet, Henri deleting the photos? Transition to Ohio? Paradise? High school, life at the school? Homes? The woods? The musical score?
4. Number Four and his origins, as a sleeper, growing up, his guardian, Henry, the chimera dog? His age, character, presence? The ordinary life? The death of Number Three, Four swimming, the light, the realisation that his mission had begun? The need to move?
5. Henri, the dog, Four and the journey to Ohio? Settling in? Going to the high school, the cover? The attraction to Sarah, time with her, photography? Time spent with Sarah, the website, Henri deleting the photos? Mark, the bully, his vicious treatment of Sam, his brutal friends, the break with Sarah and denouncing her? His father the sheriff?
6. Sam, his father, the search for aliens, his death? Bonding with Four, sharing action?
7. Four, the Loric box, the growth of his powers, Henri’s advice, concealing of the powers, Four using his ingenuity, going into the forest and exercising his superhuman powers?
8. The touch of the romantic, Four in Sarah’s room, the discussions, the photos, the camera – and the nearly-kiss?
9. Henri, the conspiracy theorists, warning Four to leave, Henri’s death?
10. The arrival of the monsters, the confrontations, the Commander, the presence of evil aliens? The disintegration of the monsters? Mark and his involvement, the lockers and the explosion of pink paint? The buildup to a climax, the explosion, the destruction of the Commander and the Mogadorians?
11. The arrival of Number 6, female, her powers, strength, going into battle, a saviour figure?
12. The blue rocks, use, the second rock – and to find the other Numbers?
13. The premise of the plot, the aliens, wanting world domination, plants on earth, confrontations between good and evil?
