chemical imbalance

OUT NOW NETFLIX

At one point in Netflix’s action-fantasy hybrid, Jamie Foxx keenly extols the pistol shrimp’s unexpected battle powers. Sadly, this promising but piecemeal genre twist from directors Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman (Catfish, Nerve) never quite matches the crustacean’s clout or surprise value. Despite its engaging A-grade leads, class-A-plus drugs, brutal bust-ups and political subtexts, Project Power struggles to coerce its parts into satisfying shape, let alone pack a potent thrill hit.

After his overdue return, Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays Frank, a Dirty Harry-quoting cop investigating a new drug, Power, on New Orleans’ streets. Frank uses the pill himself to track Powered-up users and trace the food chain, riskily: the drug can transform users into super-powered mutants for five minutes, or kill them. Teenage rapper and dealer Robin (Dominique Fishback) becomes Frank’s contact; when veteran-on-a-mission Art (Foxx) abducts her for spoiler-y, albeit generic reasons, Frank gives pursuit.