Blu-ray Review: I Am Number Four

I Am Number Four
Written by:  Alfred Gough, Miles Millar and Marti Noxon based on the book by Pittacus Lore
Directed by: DJ Caruso
Starring: Alex Pettyfer, Tomothy Olyphant, Teresa Palmer, Dianna Agron, Callan McAuliffe and Kevin Durand
Special Features: Deleted Scenes, Bloopers and "Becoming Number Six" - Follow actress Teresa Palmer as she masters her stunts, surprising everyone including herself.

From the box:

Three are dead.  Who is Number Four?  Fro,m director D.J. Caruso (Disturbia), producer Michael Bay (Transformers) and the writers of TV's Smallville comes this gripping action-packed thriller.  John Smith (Alex Pettyfer) is an extraordinary teen masking his true identity to elude a deadly enemy sent to destroy him.  Living with his guardian (Timothy Olyphant) in the small town he now calls home, John encounters unexpected, life0changing events - his first love (Dianna Agron, TV's Glee), powerful new abilities and a secret connection to the others who share his incredible destiny.  Complete with deleted scenes an more, I Am Number For is an explosive, suspense-filled ride that will take you to the edge of your seat and beyond.

Word was that I Am Number Four was Twilight with aliens and to be honest I did get that vibe a bit when I saw the trailers.  Well it turns out not to be at all like Twlight.  Sure there is a bit of a love story but there is none of the overwrought emoting and gag worthy doe eyed stares that make one want to run for the nearest cliff.

I Am Number Four is, unlike the abysmal Twilight films, actually good.  It's downright fun.  The action is exciting, the acting is pretty good for the most part, only Dianna Agron seems a little wooden but I still like her.

Despite myself, I was taken in by the lore and the story.  It was far better than I had expected it to be based on the trailers.  I was pleasantly surprised.  Sure it isn't perfect but you can't help getting caught up in the characters.

The film looks great on blu-ray with the effects and explosions looking glorious.  The sound is very well done as well.  I had to keep lowering the volume so I didn't bother the neighbors.

Unfortunately, the disc is light on special features with a few deleted scenes, a blooper reel and a featurette featuring Teresa Palmer, who was pretty damn cool as Number Six.  She was a scene stealer for sure.

I don't know how the odds are for a sequel to I Am Number Four.  The book sequel, The Power of Six, comes out later this august, so I can only hope we see that on the big screen.

I really think this has the chance to be a pretty great franchise if the studio gets behind it and gives it a chance.  In a year of major disappointments like The Last Airbender, movies like I Am Number Four gives a little hope that it's not all bad.

I Am Number Four is available now.

I Am Number Four

Pop Culture Beast Rating

8/10