I have a feeling this movie, when all is said and done, will be underrated. It would be easy to consider this movie less than it is: a good action sci-fi film, as good as anything from the Marvel Cinematic Universe with performances on the strong side and deliberate, cool filmmaking on the part of directors Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman.

_Project Power_ (2020) is a worthy follow-up to 2016's _Nerve_, another high-concept thriller that seemed like it was adapted from a young adult novel. Joost and Schulman have certain tics. They like for their protagonists to ride motorcycles. They distinguish their films through blinding neons and high color saturation. And above all, they have a penchant for that saccharine sentimentality some might call “heart.” Without question, _Project Power_ has that in spades.

Both Jamie Foxx and Joseph Gordon-Levitt are underutilized as leading men in these kinds of lightweight action thrillers. Gordon-Levitt seems to be doing his best imitation of his character from _Premium Rush_ (2012) and Foxx finds his groove somewhere between _Django Unchained_ (2012) and _Baby Driver_ (2017). Clearly these gentlemen are having a blast. But Dominique Fishback also delivers a compelling performance, showing the chops to break out from the unquestionably young adult trappings of this film into something that will put her substantial acting prowess to good use.

Joost and Schulman have a phenomenal talent for stylish, kinetic action. Each of the film's fight scenes is creative, not just in how they are choreographed but also how they are filmed. This is every bit a step up from their prior work, but still comfortably in their lane.

Overall, I find _Project Power_ to be an impressive film that is a cut above most Netflix exclusive offerings. It is a fine work of genre filmmaking and might have a little under the hood. I'd happily watch a Fishback, Foxx, and Gordon-Levitt led franchise, but it doesn't look like that's a certain outcome here. Nonetheless, this is a better class of modern B movie, the kind of pulp we deserve.