Power Ballad

In John Carney's Power Ballad, a past-his-prime wedding singer named Rick meets a fading boy-band star named Danny during one of his gigs. The musicians then bond over a late-night jam session, but when Danny steals one of Rick’s songs and turns it into a smash hit, Rick sets out to reclaim the recognition he deserves - even if it means risking everything he cares about.

Yes, John Carney is back with another musical drama. And you know what? I'm really glad that he's found a niche that works for him. Carney makes really endearing movies about struggling musicians, and this one is no different.

This time around, Paul Rudd stars as Rick. And, while he may not be a professional singer, he still does a great job of leading this film. He's a charming guy! Still, it's clear that Rudd is straining his voice on the movie's soundtrack. Which is unfortunate. Because his covers of pre-existing songs aren't all that great.

Thankfully, all of the original songs are quite catchy. Probably because the tunes were created with Rudd's vocal range in mind. But I personally like the style and sound of the original tracks too. What can I say? I'm a fan of weird late '80s - possibly early '90s - hard-to-define rock music. So, I'm sure I'll be listening to some of these tunes for many years to come.

Fun fact: I started playing the soundtrack in my car before leaving the theater parking lot, and someone who left the same screening started jamming to the tunes with me. That was nice. There's nothing quite like bonding over a shared theatrical experience.

Anyway, Nick Jonas is also in this movie, and he kind of has the exact opposite problem of Paul Rudd; he can sing, but he isn't necessarily the best actor. I mean, he does a perfectly fine job of playing the song-stealing Danny, but nothing about his performance really stands out either.

This is probably the best performance in his acting career, though. Sure, that isn't exactly a high bar to clear, but hopefully it means Jonas is only improving as a performer. Which is a good thing. I wouldn't mind seeing him in movies that are better than Jumanji.

Plus, Jonas does have solid chemistry with Paul Rudd here. I really like their dynamic with one another, so it's a shame that their characters don't share much screen time together.

Jack Reynor and Havana Rose Liu also have small supporting roles in the film, but they aren't exactly given a lot to do here. Peter McDonald is fun as Rick’s best friend, Sandy, though!

But, as is the case with most other Carney films, Power Ballad tells a predictable story that is fairly simplistic and overly sugarcoated. That story won't (understandably) work for everyone, but I think it makes for a fine addition to Carney's musical filmography. It may not be his best film, but it's still a sweet, charming, and endearing little movie.

Which means that Power Ballad would definitely get a recommendation from me.