I Am Number Four

STARRING: Alex Pettyfer, Diane Agron
DIRECTOR: D.J. Caruso (CERT PG, 104 MINUTES)

THE PLOT: Could this be the new Edward and Bella? We think so. Hotter-than-the-Sun Alex Pettyfer plays John Smith, one of nine extra terrestrial teens sent to Earth when their home planet is destroyed. John and the other nine scattered across the world are being hunted down in numerical order by the gruesome Mogadorians (think 7 ft tall alien goths). When John senses that the 3rd of his kind has been killed, he realises his number is up. Literally. He is Number Four.

On the run, John enrolls in yet another high school. Here he deals with all you’d expect; conspiracy theory nerds, territorial quarterbacks and the affections of cheerleader-turned-outsider Sarah (Dianna Agron).

WHAT’S RIGHT WITH IT? For starters it has been produced in the capable hands of two people who know a thing or two about science fiction - Michael Bay (Transformers) and Steven Spielberg (ET).

Secondly, it’s not all sci-fi thriller. In fact it’s your typical girl-meets-vampire highschool love story, except this time he’s not a vampire - he’s an alien (how novel) - but all the trademarks are there. Mysterious new arrival? Check. Superhuman abilities? Check. Everlasting love? Hang on, everlasting love? Well yes, the aliens “mate for life” and that girl from Glee is “the one”. We know, famous last words of a teen romance.

Apart from feeling all too familiar, I am Number Four skips along at the speed of light, giving us just the right mix of teen angst and alien action.

Pettyfer is a real hearthrob in the making doing broody to pined perfection. RPattz watchout.

WHAT’S WRONG WITH IT? Dianna Agron’s ability to portray any genuine emotion appears to have been abducted by aliens and subjected to a lobotomy.

VERDICT: It’s Bella and Edward but with blonde hair and year-round tans. What’s not to love?