Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas both hit the right notes in John Carney’s latest gem.
“Power Ballad” is further proof that John Carney is a filmmaker who loves his home country of Ireland, music with the right kind of heart and soul, and people who dream big. “Once,” “Begin Again,” “Sing Street,” and “Flora and Son” are all riveting examples of that. “Power Ballad” takes a concept about someone taking all the credit for a song and the real creator confronting him, and chooses not to make it seem like a slapstick comedy. Instead, it chooses to show the real strength of the music world: what the song symbolizes, who can or can’t make it big in any industry, and how singers can handle their highs and lows.
The movie stars Paul Rudd as Rick, a singer from Kansas City who moves to Ireland and starts a family and a career as a wedding singer in the band-The Bride and Groove. And like the main protagonist of “Once,” he acknowledges that people want to hear cover versions of hit songs and not originals (he’s told: “We’re not rock stars; we’re human juke boxes”), although he tries to add his new additions at weddings to very few fans.
And the movie also stars Nick Jonas as a former boy band member named Danny, who went solo and ends up performing at the same venue as The Bride and the Groove. That same night, Danny meets Rick, has some drinks and play some music in his suite. The older singer introduces the younger singer to a song called “How to Write a Song (Without You),” which Danny eventually simplifies into a hit and doesn’t given Rick credit for.
Struggling to find proof that he wrote that, Rick contacts Danny’s record manager (Jack Reynor) with no luck. And so, he and his fellow band member and friend Sandy (Peter McDonald) head over to Los Angeles to find Danny.
Rudd and Jonas can both sing very well, whether we’re talking about cover versions of Stevie Wonder’s “I Wish” or Huey Lewis’ “The Power of Love” or “How to Write a Song (Without You).” And I stayed during the end credits to read their names under the Vocals list and songs list. Carney wouldn’t be a filmmaker at his level if he chose actors who are tone deaf. Nobody is in “Power Ballad,” and we love hearing them sing. And we love learning about them, as well.
Watching Rick trying to prove he wrote the song would be irritating if it was handled in lesser hands or in other comedies that care more about vulgarity and humor than heart. But watching Rick deal with the difficulties and outcomes in “Power Ballad” has more heart and humor than vulgarity. And we don’t need everyone saying “FU” all the time. In fact, this movie likes to take risks, gamble, and delight us with Rudd’s charms and emotions.
Jonas has made a name for himself in the teen world, and out of all the movies he’s acted in like “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” or “You’re Cordially Invited,” this might be his best performance. He has the ability to break free from the teen fanbase and resonate with his own career and have some character development and vulnerabilities. He kind of reminds me of how Zac Efron broadened his horizons in “Neighbors.”
“Power Ballad” is about people and music, something that Carney specializes, and he takes what could be considered a formulaic plot and gives it a charming, funny, and heartwarming spin. And it knows a great soundtrack when it hears it. This is one of the year’s best films, and you owe it to yourselves to see Rudd and Jonas deliver the goods.
In Select Theaters This Friday
Expands Everywhere Next Week