Based on the popular young-adult novel (one of whose co-writers, I was highly amused to learn, is James Frey) comes the no-expenses-spared cinematic adaptation I Am Number Four. Overseen by the inimitable Michael Bay—famous for his quiet, sensitive, meticulously observed meditations on the human condition—and directed by D.J. Caruso (Disturbia, Eagle Eye), the movie version appears to be the tale of a very pretty young blond boy who meets a very pretty young blond girl, with whom he shares supernatural powers that facilitate the whomping of bad guys, who look like the Romulans from last year’s (awesome) Star Trek movie.
I’m torn between expecting a campy, intoxication-friendly guilty pleasure and a catastrophic train wreck, but it is virtually certain that fans of the books will complain, at the very least, of a loss of nuance in the adaptation, as this appears to be a Bay/Caruso collaboration on the order of Eagle Eye, itself rather loud and—after a certain point—extremely stupid. But we must remember not to be too harshly prejudicial. It may very well be an excellent movie. It certainly stars very attractive people, and will feature at least one scene of Timothy Olyphant hollering exposition at the pretty hero. So there’s that to look forward to. As well as what looks like some competently directed action. If nothing else promising is opening in February, this might be worth a look.
