A new drug has arrived in New Orleans that gives the taker superpowers for five minutes. Unfortunately the actual result varies person to person, you may become indestructible or you might explode and die. Trying to find the source of ‘Power’ for different reasons are Frank (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), Art (Jamie Foxx) and Robin (Dominique Fishback).

Project Power is a film that is mediocre at best. It is filled with derivative action and character motivations and terrible faceless villains. It’s only measure of fun are the unpredictable five minutes of pill popping powers given to each person who consumes the drug. In the main these characters will be throwaway villains we have never met until immediately prior to the act, giving the implications no weight whatsoever.

Our heroes have zero chemistry together and are generic. Frank is a local cop who does not appreciate his patch being used as a testing ground for a new drug. Art is an ex army ranger who is searching for his kidnapped daughter who may have some link to the source of Power. Robin is a teenage schoolgirl trying to support her diabetic mother with dreams of being a rapper. None of them are interesting or endearing and the actors never manage to spark off each other and create any element of fun.

Our villains on the other hand are ciphers. The ultimate big bad portrayed by Amy Landecker is barely present and I did not even detect an attempt at a motivation for her crimes beyond “money”. Slightly more prominent is Rodrigo Santoro’s Biggie, who at least gets to show off the power the drug bestows him.

The film literally hangs entirely on how much enjoyment you get out of the powers on display. Whether that be a human torch, bullet proof skin or chameleonic camouflage. Surely that is not enough?