Bradley Cooper has thus far made a successful career as a key player in ensemble films such as Wedding Crashes and The Hangover, yet here he makes his mark as a leading man and executive producer in Limitless, an adaptation of Alan Gylnn’s acclaimed novel “The Dark Fields” (should have kept that title).

The film begins with Cooper as a man literally on the edge. He plays Eddie Morra, a down and out writer suffering from a severe case of writers block and poor housekeeping.

When a former acquaintance slips him a sample of a mind inducing drug called NZT, Eddie’s brain is turned up to 11 and firing on all cylinders, using his new found powers to up his professional and social standing to the delight of his estranged girlfriend (Abbie Cornish).

It’s when he makes a splash in the rich end of town that the sharks start swimming towards fresh blood, with Robert De Niro’s feared energy industry magnate a great white with a hunger for Eddie’s almost supernatural expertise, the iconic actor relying on his reputation as a former heavy hitter to see him through an otherwise thankless supporting role. 

Unlike other films playing in the multiplexes, Limitless is filled with ideas, yet they are not properly utilised to their full effect, more often than not shooting itself in the foot thanks to its inability to create characters worth caring about, deflating any sense of tension and featuring numerous scenes that are an exercise in silliness.

Directed by Neil Burger, the films strength is found in its visuals, with Eddie’s supersonic scope presented through varied and even innovative visual effects work, which effectively pulls us into the mind of a man working at light speed.

Yet Burger fails in creating the paranoia infused techno morality tale he so wanted to make, with themes such as the consequences of powers given and not earned, and the destructive nature of addiction, failing to relate on an emotional and even moral level.

What does work is the casting of Cooper, who espouses the charm, wit, and intelligence need to sell his performance. Through his character, he presents an idea: what would you do if given the power to better yourself?

One thing is for sure, if Limitless is an example of life lived better through chemistry, then there are not enough flaws worthy of this prescription.