Over the past decade, superhero and comic book films have become a significant staple in pop culture, with the promise of riveting action, dazzling digital effects and captivating characters. Given the immense popularity of the genre, in addition to the hefty profits which these films are commonly known for raking in, it comes as no surprise that Netflix would throw its own hat into the ring. 

The resulting product, “Project Power,” comes with some merit, displaying a refreshingly original premise, in addition to a star-turn performance for actress Dominique Fishback (“The Hate U Give”). However, the film ultimately errs on the generic side of storytelling, providing for a mildly entertaining, occasionally worrisome outing which shall ultimately fade into obscurity amongst the wide selection of Netflix Originals both available and soon to come.

The film centers around a near-future society in which humans may temporarily gain superhuman abilities by ingesting a potentially dangerous pill. Though a great deal of intrigue is generated by the pill’s mysterious origins and the capabilities which it possesses, the film ultimately does little to explore these aspects. Instead, we are treated to a rather average story in which a group of individuals attempt to thwart a kingpin’s attempt to improve the drug and mass produce it. As such, very little of its runtime is devoted to the actual usage of the pill and the film is more invested in the politics and ethics pertaining to it, thereby providing for few interesting or memorable moments throughout the film, occasionally shining when it delivers upon its promise of displaying super-powered individuals in action.

From a casting standpoint, the film seemed quite promising, containing Hollywood heavyweights such as Jamie Foxx (“Just Mercy”) and Joseph Gordon-Levitt (“7500”) in its starring roles. Despite the likes of two knock-out performances from these seasoned actors, both seem to sadly phone in their parts, with Gordon-Levitt even appearing to overacting at times. However, the cast still holds some promise, as the young Fishback delivers a remarkably deep and captivating performance, thus showing a great deal of potential for her future through this role.

Coming off of a year in which superhero films were released on an almost-monthly basis, it may come as a disappointment to fans that this year has been rather lacking in such films. With the few which have been released to have been forgettable, or at least less impressive than those from years passed. For those craving for a new superhero film, “Project Power” may do the trick for individuals, albeit in a rather unsatisfying manner. Though it shows glimmers of originality, the film unfortunately struggles to truly display anything new or interesting in order to promote audience investment. Instead, it attempts to play things safe, opting to present an average, tired story, rather than utilize its truly fascinating concept in order to help elevate it above most other films of its genre. In keeping with the recurring theme of Netflix Originals, the film feels as if it were made solely to be released and seen, rather than putting any true inspiration or thought behind it in order to make it stand out.

Image from Netflix via YouTube