‘Power Ballad’ Movie Review – Is It Worth Watching?

John Carney has carved out a unique cinematic niche and Power Ballad sits comfortably in his wheelhouse. Straddling the line between commercial appeal and indie spirit, this “stealth musical” feels like it hits somewhere right between the raw, micro-budget earnestness of Once and the glossy Hollywood aspirations of Begin Again.

Name a Paul Rudd movie that isn’t Ant-Man or a broad comedy, and you might struggle. A lovable actor, Rudd makes every film he’s in more entertaining and yet, so many of them don’t properly register. Not your typical leading man and too big a star to be a sidekick, Rudd navigates his own path as the perpetual underdog, typically leaning into unassuming comedic roles.

That’s why Power Ballad is such a welcome surprise. It’s great to see Rudd in more dramatic territory, doing much more acting and far less joking here. As Rick, a man who traded his rock-and-roll dreams for familial responsibility, Rudd carries the emotional weight of the film. He brings immense heart, spirit, and a deep sense of emotional turmoil to an artist whose potential was subverted by circumstance.

Opposite him, Nick Jonas has some acting experience (where he often plays a version of himself), but he does surprisingly well here. Jonas is undeniably the more talented singer and looks the part of a pop idol, but also holds his own dramatically as Danny. Playing a pop star swayed by his fork-tongued manager, Jonas portrays a “villain” who genuinely believes he’s justified. In his desperation to reclaim his fading career and stroke his own ego, he blurs the lines of creative inspiration. It’s difficult to see greed in the mirror, and Jonas cleverly plays dumb when it comes to taking responsibility, convincing himself he’s entitled to the proceeds.

The chemistry between Rudd and Jonas feels genuine, turning the film into a fascinating bromance gone wrong. At its core, the story explores a musician forced to choose between his home country and his adopted country, his family or his career and fame and fortune versus peace of mind. It also tackles the timely debate of credit and creativity – a theme seen in music biopics like Elvis or music documentaries like Man on the Run, where artists find themselves in tricky, conservatorship-like relationships with their representation.

“Play it again, Rick.”

The narrative itself is a pretty straightforward story told with heart and soul. The tension continues to evolve as Rick’s disillusionment and frantic attempts to find evidence of his ownership make him doubt his own sanity. As Danny’s career skyrockets, Rudd’s hits rock bottom… but as the film reminds us, the truth has a funny way of bubbling to the surface.

Musically, the film centres around the development of one main song – taking a sidestreet to recall that brilliant ‘Falling Slowly’ Oscar-winner, a direct reference to Once – while the rest of the soundtrack is peppered by upbeat, mostly cover songs from the likes of Thin Lizzy and Bryan Adams.

Power Ballad is different from Carney’s other “stealth musicals” in the way that it doesn’t centre on romance. Opting to focus on a bromance, the film could have settled into a two-hander late night recording in much the same way as Before Sunrise. Instead, the evening sets the platform for the betrayal, making this film tinged with bitterness, disillusionment and sadness. It still hits home as a dramedy but doesn’t intertwine the music and emotion as completely as his previous films, chiming in alongside Begin Again.

Ultimately, Power Ballad succeeds on the strength of its impactful performances. It’s a charming dramedy about a man inspired by the simple act of walking his daughter to school – a guitar in one hand, his daughter’s hand in the other – fighting for the rights to his own soul.

The bottom line: Spirited