Power Ballad

Primarily set on the Emerald Isle, Power Ballad follows the sluggish life of Rick Power (Paul Rudd), a professional musician who once had dreams of playing Madison Square Garden, but now spends his weekends washed up performing at weddings. Rick is the wealthiest man in the world thanks to his loving family life, but he still wishes he could make it in the music industry. One night, after completing another wedding set, Rick bonds with Danny (Nick Jonas), a former boy band star trying to make it on his own, during a jam session. However, when Danny turns one of Rick’s songs into an international hit, Rick sets out to get the recognition and justice he deserves.

Directed by John Carney, whose previous musical works include Sing Street and Flora and Son, Power Ballad is a plucky film that plays all the right chords, whilst pulling on your heartstrings at the same time. A drama as much as it is a comedy, the movie requires a special type of actor to anchor it, and Rudd appears to be the perfect lead role casting. As expected, he is effortlessly amusing and charismatic, allowing you to warm to Rick and his backstory instantaneously.

While the feature is undoubtedly his story, opposite him is Jonas, who proves to be the surprise package. Both men have great on-screen chemistry together as they bond over their passion for their craft and eventually become foes. We know he can sing, but Jonas delivers a more than capable and convincing performance as the tormented musician, and while his role may not be the most challenging he will ever play, he leaves you wanting more Danny. However, the character is a little one-dimensional and is painted too strongly and indelibly with the villain brush, and with a little more time dedicated to Danny’s own troubles, we may be able to feel more empathy towards him as well as Rick.

One of the main and most important questions asked of a movie centred around music is, are the tunes good? In Power Ballad‘s case, the answer is absolutely! The soundtrack and score, put together by Carney and Gary Clark, is a complete vibe from start to finish, with the original songs easily passing for real chart hits. Perhaps the pair should seriously think about really releasing some music. Encapsulated in this box of musical medley are themes of hope, parenthood, vengeance and a sense of belonging that runs throughout the movie, and yes, while it all feels very familiar, this charming feel-good movie makes for very satisfying, crowd-pleasing viewing.