I Am Number Four Review (4/5)

I Am Number Four sets out to create an action-fuelled film packed with set pieces and sci-fi powers, but in doing so stumbles, making all of the elementary errors that should now be history in book adaptations. We're introduced to 'John Smith' as he discovers Number Three is dead after a fairly rushed action sequence, and soon enough John and his guardian Henri reach Ohio, where they will stay for the duration of the flick. Trouble is, at this point I Am Number Four starts to take drastic measures with the original text, removing characters and key moments that stopped the book becoming the same as Twilight in its smooth balance of action and romance (a balance which Stephanie Meyer seemed to struggle to maintain). For example, Sarah Hart gets far less screen time here than she should have, a discredit to the excellent novel and talented actress Diana Agron-Quinn in Glee- and a major character, who was killed off late in the source material at a point where John was shattered and had built a strong enough relationship with them that their death hurt both the protagonist and the reader, is now deceased before I Am Number Four even reaches its halfway point. These criticisms sound like the ramblings of someone who remembers too much of the original book, but if anything that there was so little gap between the book and film (the former released just last April) means that I certainly won't be the only one complaining. Why, then, if the movie version makes so many mistakes, does it still receive a moderately high score here? What I cannot deny is that this version of the material still tells an exciting tale, even if it takes liberties with its inspiration as a result, and that the ending (involving another Number character who's Australian) is packed to the brim with thrilling moments for any viewer. This does not excuse I Am Number Four for being blatantly disrespectful to Pittacus Lore's original novel, however Alex Pettyfer and Diana Agron do possess enough likeability along with a decent plot to keep it from falling in the pit created by Eragon and Stormbreaker of useless book adaptations.