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PROJECT POWER
Moderately-powered fun.
There’s no doubt that what Marvel have done during their stratospheric rise to comic book movie dominance has been nothing short of extraordinary. The power they wield within a genre built on superpowers is quite astonishing, one even long-time rivals DC have struggled to compete with.
So, what hope is there for the little guy? For those telling smaller superpowered stories unconcerned with phases and building cinematic universes? Well, quite a lot actually.
From Chronicle to Unbreakable and all the niches in between, there are many examples of smaller, more insular, superhero titles out there that have explored corners of the genre that Marvel (and to a lesser extent DC) can’t or won’t go. And, as the genre expands exponentially, with its popularity showing no signs of slowing (just yet anyway), there will be more and more opportunities for efforts like Netflix’s Project Power to forge their own path.
As word on the New Orleans streets spreads of a mysterious new pill that unlocks superpowers unique to each user, it’s not long before it becomes the hottest drug in town. Although the potential of possessing supernatural power, even for a short period, is a tempting one, it comes with a huge catch – you won’t know what will happen until you take it. While some develop bullet-proof skin or superstrength, others have a far deadlier reaction. With this pill driving up crime in the city to unprecedented levels, a local police officer (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) teams with a teenage dealer (Dominique Fishback) and a vengeance-fuelled ex-soldier (Jamie Foxx) to hunt down the group responsible for producing it.
As a concept, even within a genre that has covered similar subjects many times over, Project Power’s core premise is a solid one. The idea of a highly potent drug that grants unknown superpowers for a limited time only is a fascinating one with boundless potential.
Looking at the idea of superpowers from the ground up is a hugely intriguing prospect that allows a film to go down avenues the genre’s big hitters are often too unwieldy to go. As the likes of Marvel concern themselves with massive purple aliens and multiverses, Project Power certainly has the chance to sneak up and surprise people with something a little different.
Unfortunately, however, this is where Project Power falters. The concept is there, and its world is setup well, yet it never quite fulfils its potential. Taking ideas that many comic book movies have already tackled, the film approaches things from a different angle initially, taking the action down to the streets of New Orleans, yet its route from there is a meandering, predictable let-down.
With more than a hint of X-Men about it, Project Power’s portrayal of superpowers as a complicated, double-edged sword liable to hinder as much as help is an interesting one that offers a well-rounded approach to something that could easily come off as one-dimensional. But, after a solid start, in which the drug and its appeal are established, as well as some nifty action set pieces, things soon start to drift.
Like those taking this new wonder drug, the film’s powers rapidly fade, as several narrative decisions gradually undermine Project Power’s best intentions. The most glaring of these is the decision to detour away from the street just as things are warming up (quite literally at times), switching focus from the effect the pill has on those seduced by it towards far less interesting, far more cliched, territory.
Giving us evil corporations, dodgy experiments, shady government conspiracies, faceless henchmen, and bland villains, Project Power swiftly loses all originality and momentum as it progresses. By the film’s end, there’s little remaining of its initial promise, as we’re left with a lazy, rehashed plot that offers nothing new.
Yet, despite this ultimate lack of originality, there’s certainly a lot to enjoy in Project Power, not least with its stars. As ever, Jamie Foxx and Joseph Gordon-Levitt are great and give their all for something that could’ve easily seen them coast, clearly having a ball and enjoying the ride, however, it’s young Dominique Fishback that steals the show.
While she has a number of notable television credits to her name, Fishback is a relative rookie in the film world, yet, if she’s phased by the star power alongside her, she doesn’t show it, as she grabs her opportunity with both hands. Combining dramatic and comedic chops, as well as an impressive lyrical flow, Fishback winds up becoming the star of the show, marking herself out as one to watch in the future.
Unusually for a Netflix action flick, Project Power certainly looks the part, with a distinctive appearance that marks it out from the streaming giant’s usual genre fare. Credit here must go to co-directors Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman who have clearly gone the extra mile to make the action pop.
With a little bit of X-Men, a dash of Captain America, and even some superpowered TV with the likes of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Luke Cage thrown in for good measure, the film’s superpowered action certainly isn’t anything new, yet it does what it does efficiently. Of course, the further the plot goes, the bigger and blander Project Power gets, however, the action is never less than engaging throughout.
With a distinct eye for colour, a unique visual approach, and a keen sense of place as they utilise their New Orleans surroundings well, Joost and Schulman impart Project Power with just enough style to smooth over some of the film’s rougher edges, allowing the action to pop even as the wheels fall off the plot.
Solid and engaging, Project Power runs with its concept as far as it can, yet, like the eponymous drug itself, it’s not long before things wear off. With an intriguing setup and heaps of promise, the film can’t quite live up to its superpowered potential, as a wayward plot drags things down a well-trodden superhero path. Despite this, predictably steady turns from Jamie Foxx and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, together with a breakout performance from young Dominique Fishback and a unique visual style give Project Power just enough punch to survive.
