Jen Lim

Below is my film review featured on http://www.inside-cinema.com/

Stars Alex Pettyfer, Timothy Olyphant, Dianna Agron, Teresa Palmer

‘I Am Number Four’ is directed by D.J Caruso (Disturbia) and based on the science fiction novel co-written by James Frey. Having watched the trailer, I could not help but to expect the plot would involve some special effects, loud sounds, a couple of ‘cheap’ [shocks] and a probable sideline romance story, which is exactly what I got.

The film pulls out all the stops to attract an audience – handsome protagonist, superhero powers, romance, fancy bright lights, accompanied by loud bangs and action explosions. It seemed much like a sci-fi take on the same material that made ‘Twilight’ an international sensation.

The plotline felt a little bit contrived, almost as though I was in a massive whirlpool of ‘Twilight’, ‘Buffy the vampire slayer’ and ‘Roswell’ spectacles. It doles out a shameless amount of “attractions” to reel in the audience. The stereotype characters like the new guy with a secret, the attractive love interest with a twist, the know-all sci-fi geek, the football jock and cartoon-like alien villain failed in the [empathy department].

Despite that, the film succeeded in some respects, it did not fail to entertain and particularly in the fact that it had a sense of humour and some exciting action scenes. The special effects and animation was exciting and convincingly presented, if perhaps a little over the top; it still successfully accompanied its cliché storyline.

The film is a mixed bag of entertaining and corny with its CG monsters, animal sidekicks and cartoon villains. I am almost surprised and slightly refreshed that the films textbook storyline did not slap you in the face with a jaw-dropping cliff-hanger but with an emotive trail off leaving the viewers with an understanding that future instalments are on the way.

‘I Am Number Four’ contains all the makings of the formula to be an exciting hit. Despite the few cheap gimmicks, its purpose to entertain is achieved making it a film I wouldn’t mind seeing progress into a [sequel].
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Basically, in a nutshell, I was on the edge of my seat, but not sure if it was because I needed to wee the entire way through
Signing out,
Jen