Adventures of Power Review

Messages: The movie thinks it has a positive message about believing in your dreams, but it's ultimately more of a message that viewers are supposed to love its lame, awkward lead character. The film also depicts a labor-vs.-management showdown, in which the lead character's air drumming dreams inspire the strikers to bet back on the line -- but it plays more like a bitter joke than a sweet moment.

Role models: The film wants to make the title character, Power, a hero in the Napoleon Dynamite/beautiful outsider mold, but ultiamately he's far too self-absorbed and pleased with himself to be sympathetic or inspiring. There's also some broad ethnic stereotyping.

Violence: Some comedic scuffling; police use truncheons when interrupting an illegal "air drumming" competition; strike-breaking thugs beat union members. A cook uses apron-based marital arts. A man is beaten by muggers.

Sex: A preteen boy asks someone when the last time was that he "sucked down some hussy spit." A passing man asks of a woman honking her horn, "I know the horn blows, but does the driver? Some kissing.

Language: Some strong language, including "p---y," "gay," "ass," and "piss." "Tonto" is used to describe a Native American; an Indian character is called "Jihad." "Retarded" is used as an insult.

Consumerism: Only one brand, eBay, is mentioned by name.

Drinking, drugs and smoking: Of-age characters drink beer and hard liquor (underage characters are seen in a bar, but they only drink soda); background characters smoke cigarettes.