“I Am Number Four” is based on a science fiction novel co-written by James Frey, and movie critics appear to be as enamored of the “A Million Little Pieces” fabulist as Oprah. The plot, centering on a teen alien hiding out on Earth and being hunted down, is being criticized as a “Twilight” knockoff and the film’s direction and script aren’t receiving high praise, either. Will bad reviews affect what is designed to be a lucrative film franchise?
Here’s a sampling of some of the reviews:
- “I Am Number Four” is shameless and unnecessary. That’s sad, when a movie casts aside all shame, demonstrates itself willing to rip off anything that might attract audiences, and nevertheless fails. What we have here is a witless attempt to merge the “Twilight” formula with the Michael Bay formula.” [Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times]
- “Conceived by Oprah-vilified author James Frey as the beginning of a potential blockbuster franchise, I Am Number Four is nothing but a million little pieces from prior superhero series and the Twilight saga.” [Nick Schager, Village Voice]
- “As action films aimed at this audience go, “Number Four″ falls midway between “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” and “Twilight” — edgier than “Jackson,” mockingly self-aware, but without the white-hot sexual tension of the vampire movies. And the subtext, that you shouldn’t waste your teen years on stupid risks because you’re needed “for a higher purpose,” makes this a franchise I won’t mind seeing progress to a second movie.” [Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel]
- “Screenwriters Alfred Gough, Miles Millar and Marti Noxon adapt the novel by Pittacus Lore, the pseudonym for James Frey, best known as the author of the controversial memoir A Million Little Pieces. To their credit, all the subplots involving teenage love, school bullies and fitting in ring true. But I Am Number Four aims to be a sci-fi action movie first and a teen melodrama second and long before its action climax unfolds, one sits wondering if these veteran screenwriters and producers mixed up their priorities.” [Steve Ramos, Boxoffice Magazine]
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