I Am Number Four

First Hit: The beginning was mediocre but it picked up quickly and became a very entertaining film.

In the first 10 minutes I thought this was going to be a waste of my time. I’m not sure about the initial sequences but they weren’t a good setup for the rest of the film.

However, the rest of this story worked out and only because the actors were good and they wanted the characters to be as real as possible. John (played by Alex Pettyfer), who is Number Four, is one of 9 aliens sent to earth by his planet to save their planet’s species.

His home planet was invaded by Mogodorians who destroyed his planet’s inhabitants. They are out to find and destroy the 9 who were sent to earth. Each of the 9 has a guardian who assists them from being found by the Mogodorians. Numbers One, Two, and Three are dead and now they are after Number Four.

He is discovered to be an alien by a couple of kids his own age as the Mogodorians are closing in to kill him. At the same time Number 6 (played by Teresa Palmer) comes on to the scene to assist in killing the Mogodorians who have found Number Four.

The ending leaves it possible for there to be multiple follow-up films.

Pettyfer made this film work for me because he came across as thoughtful and made his character as honest as he could. Palmer was fun. Dianna Agron played Sarah an earthling John falls in love with. She was very good and held her own in keeping this film as solid as possible. Callan McAuliffe was wonderful as the odd earthling boy who figured out something was odd about John. Timothy Olyphant was good as John’s protector. Alfred Gough and Miles Millar wrote a really good screen play except for the initial 10 – 15 minutes. D.J. Caruso directed this sci-fi fantasy in a clear story like way.

Overall: I was surprised by how this film grew on me.

Hitman

First Hit: Very little substance and after learning that it’s based on a video game, it doesn’t surprise me.

There is a somewhat interesting premise to this story however the writing, direction and acting doesn’t delve deep enough to make the story come alive.

We get a brief look in the opening moments of the film as to how these orphaned kids are trained to be hitmen. When they are ready they are given a bar code tattoo on the back of their head. Upon graduation the non-feeling hit men receive instructions on whom to kill from “The Agency.”

The story in this film is a bit convoluted and unrealistic but it serves its purpose to provide a vehicle to spend time with one of the hit men (Agent 47) played by Timothy Olyphant. Unfortunately, Olyphant has the occasional look and body movement of a good hitman but when he opens his mouth is when we can see through him. His acting chops end with dialogue in this film.

One saving grace in this film is Olga Kurylenko who plays Nika the kept girlfriend of the man Agent 47 is supposed to hit. He kidnaps her to save her from being killed (because she knows too much) by the Russian military.

In her open frankness she somehow touches Agent 47’s heart which is suppose to make him human after all. That isn’t the case but she does bring some levity, fun and beauty to the film.

Overall: Maybe a video rental if you are bored one night or like playing the video game “Hitman” and want to see someone’s film rendition.