Project Power

There are some decent performances buried within the mayhem of Project Power, a mildly ambitious science-fiction saga that’s too convoluted to make much of an impact.

Recombining familiar concepts about law enforcement, drug dealers, and those caught in the middle, this thriller features some exciting action sequences, even if the barrage of special effects and camera motion borders on sensory overload.

Beneath the slick surface is a gritty urban crime thriller set on the streets of New Orleans, where the buzz surrounds an experimental underground drug called Power, which enables users to live in a state of heightened reality and acquire a specific superpower — for exactly five minutes.

Frank (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is a narcotics detective whose sometimes reckless efforts to curtail the rampant criminal activity include an unspoken partnership with Robin (Dominique Fishback), a resourceful teenage dealer in a blue-collar neighborhood.

Across town, Art (Jamie Foxx) is a former soldier with different motives for wanting to track down the perpetrators. So when he intercepts Frank’s efforts by abducting Robin to solicit information, the youngster becomes caught in the middle. Meanwhile, the two men test their limits in determining how much they’re willing to risk for the truth.

In a breakthrough performance, Fishback (The Hate U Give) showcases an endearing screen presence. Her portrayal balances strength and vulnerability to provide a calm amid the chaos, and the maze of shifting loyalties among compromised cops, scheming opportunists, and ruthless vigilantes.

As directed by the tandem of Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman (Nerve), the film becomes too enamored with visual gimmickry and showmanship while lacking sufficient character depth to bridge the gaps. There are highlights along the way, such as an opening chase involving Art and an addict (Colson Baker) who can discharge fireballs on cue.

The undercurrent of racial and socioeconomic strife adds a layer of emotional grounding to the screenplay. But the effects of the drug itself seem to shift arbitrarily to propel the plot forward.

Project Power becomes especially muddled in the final act, as it can’t decide when or how to punctuate the inevitable final showdown. The quest for one final high drains all of its energy.

Rated R, 113 minutes.