Review: I Am Number Four

My wife and I took the opportunity provided by Family Day to have "Date Afternoon".  The kids were busy with  homework, and since most of the weekend was spent doing family things, it was a nice outing for a few hours (plus we promised them that we would bring home some Chef Wok for supper if they "allowed" us this one indulgence).

With trusty free movie pass coupons in hand (one of the benefits of having a cereal addiction), we set out to see the new Liam Neeson movie "Unknown".  Unfortunately, the line up was huge, and with one girl working the ticket booth (I assume that they didn't plan on being so busy on Family Day?), we missed the start time.  Not wanting to extend date night too late (hungry children and all!), we rock-paper-scissored between "Sanctum 3D" and "I Am Number Four".  Even though Scantum 3D has had bad reviews, I am a sucker for 3D and those stylin' glasses.

Paper covers rock, and as a result, we went to see "I Am Number Four", which at leasts filled my "if I am going to watch it on a big screen, things had better blow up real good" axiom.  Without giving away any of the plot, this mid-grade action flick felt more like Twilight: The Alien or Hellboy Goes to Kindergarten than a truly epic start to a new Sci-Fi franchise (which I think was the intent of the flick, given all the unfinished plot lines).  Things did blow up pretty good, the CGI eye candy was well done, and it's always a treat to watch Timothy Olyphant.  However, the plot was predictable and full of holes, and the whole movie lacked a real sense of anything substantial..even for a "popcorn flick" (which because of the Toronto Star article, I am no longer eating...sigh).

---