What would you do for just five minutes of power? Okay, that sounded a little like what would you do for a Klondike bar, but ice cream never made you this cool. Or this powerful (unless it was…really good ice cream, I guess).
Project Power just came out on Netflix. We’ve seen the trailers. It’s an exciting film to have looked forward to. Plus, it’s written by Mattson Tomlin – who is the co-writer for Matt Reeves’ The Batman. So, it’s actually a nice introduction for mainstream viewers to get acquainted with his work before the DC film premieres next year.
A New Look at Superheroes
This action film takes a new look at the superhero genre. While not being attached to Marvel or DC. Meaning, it does not have shackles to any sort of continuum. Completely free to be its own thing. The concept is a little like Limitless – a pill that gives you infinite power for five whole minutes. Except, Limitless never had Jamie Foxx, Dominique Fishback, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
Everyone gets different powers with this pill, which as a whole is pretty cool. Except, you may not know what kind of power you’re going to get – hopefully, it’s something useful. In the movie, Foxx, Fishback, and Gordon-Levitt team up with each other as all have different reasons for why they’re doing this. Foxx is cool as ever and really excels in the action scenes he’s thrown in. Gordon-Levitt gives a stiff performance at first, but settles into the role eventually.
The Real MVP
At the heart of it is Fishback’s character. The ever-so-cool Robin is definitely the person you should be watching this whole time. Not only does Fishback and Foxx emulate on-screen perfect chemistry, but Fishback can stand on her own as well.
What Project Power Does Well
The visuals are something that this movie does well with. It gets a little repetitive that the movie wishes to take you through the process every time someone pops a pill, but it’s regardless a cool display of graphics. It’s an incredibly interesting concept, even if it is drawing inspiration from Limitless. It’s a superhero movie without costumes or a super villain lair. It’s grounded in many ways and even becomes believable, despite the fantastical concept of the “power pill” itself.
What It Could Have Improved On
I do wish the movie had explored some of the social and psychological themes that were dangling right in front of it. It depends on what you wish to get out of it. If you are looking for a cool action film where the leads are fun to watch, you got it. If you’re looking for something a little meatier, you may have to look elsewhere. Power Project isn’t redefining any genre, nor is it coming up with questions or answers to deeper themes. Maybe that can be for a sequel. It isn’t The Boys, Umbrella Academy, or even Doom Patrol. But, it’s a fun summer movie and an ambitious try at breaking away from Marvel and DC in the superhero realm.
Rating: 3.5/5
What did you think of Project Power?
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