Power Ballad - Movie Review

Whether it be his debut Once, his breakout hit Sing Street, or anything in between, it's hard to argue that any filmmaker has mastered the heartwarming music film quite like Irish writer/director John Carney. As a musician himself it perhaps isn't a surprise that he has found his niche in these kinds of movies, but the consistent quality at which he brings these stories to life is a constant treat. His latest film, Power Ballad, is yet another in a long line of strong efforts.

Power Ballad stars Paul Rudd as Rick Power, a former musician who left his band to start a family in Dublin. Despite putting the rock star dreams to bed, Rick still works as the lead of a wedding band and writes some of his own stuff on the side. Rick and his band wind up performing at a wedding where former boy band turned solo artist Danny Wilson (Nick Jonas) happens to be attending. Danny joins the band for a song, and as the night grows late Rick runs into him outside where the two start to drink and riff off each other. Rick largely puts the fun night behind him, until six months later he hears a song he had played for Danny on the radio, with Danny giving him none of the credit for writing it. As Danny's star continues to rise, Rick seeks out credit for the song that was stolen from him.

What really makes Carney's films work so well is how endearing their nature is. At its heart this is a film about finding what matters most, and a central theme that's so naturally charming complimented by a terrific soundtrack is a dynamite combination. You feel for Rick as he sees someone living what was once his dream, but you know that even in the worst case scenario he has a wife and daughter who love him through it all. On the flip side you have Nick Jonas as a star finally rising on his own, and knowing the charming side of him you can't help but feel a bit of a punch in the gut when you see how success changes him. Danny is a character that on paper you should wind up hating, but the way Jonas shows the desperation to find success make him a character you can easily sympathize with despite clearly seeing him as an antagonist.

Pairing a charming filmmaker in Carney with arguably the most charming actor is another match made in heaven. This in my opinion is some of Rudd's best work in some time, and his charisma brings out some of the best in Nick Jonas. Every moment between the two on the first night they meet is fantastic, and watching them riff off of one another musically is a great setup to get you invested for the rest of the film. The supporting cast is solid, but is no doubt highlighted by Peter McDonald as Rick's best friend/bandmate Sandy. Sandy is simply one of those supporting characters that are impossible not to love, bringing unflinching support and constantly great comedic moments. The one disappointment I had cast wise was Havana Rose Liu, not because of her performance, I thought she was terrific, but she only has a few scenes and is then pushed aside halfway through the movie. The connection she has with Jonas feels really special and I was sad to see her cast off as the film got going.

In any Carney film you can expect some great music, and this is absolutely no exception. The entire soundtrack, new and old, is really great, but the song at the heart of it all feels truly special. I also appreciated that we hear it in many different forms, whether that be raw or recorded, or sung by Jonas or Rudd. Any time a film plays a song too much it can be grating, but having variance in how it is presented allow it to give you the feels each time it comes on. There's also a moment where Rick says something about songs meaning something different depending on who is listening, and you can feel that with how the song is used throughout.

There isn't the same emotional depth as some of Carney's other work, and truth be told I wish the film was a bit longer so we could have things fleshed out a bit more, but I still found this to be an absolute delight. 4/5