Power Ballad – Review

Cert – 15, Run-time – 1 hour 38 minutes, Director – John Carney

After spending an evening jamming and sharing ideas with former boy band member Danny Wilson (Nick Jonas), wedding singer Rick Power (Paul Rudd) discovers Danny has turned one of his songs into a hit, with no credit to him.

The marketing for Power Ballad has been significantly present yet consistently feels as if it’s being passed by. Perhaps hindered by the fact that it appears to be advertising a different film to the John Carney written and directed musical dramedy. As with Carney’s previous features, the heart is in the music; much of which, for the original songs, he has a hand in, and the relationships the characters have with it.

How To Write A Song (Without You) is a deeply personal song for wedding singer Rick Power (Paul Rudd), lead of the even-better-named The Bride And Groove. Since leaving a band and settling down in Ireland with his wife (Marcella Plunket) and teenage daughter (Beth Fallon) he’s continued writing music, but originals don’t go down well with wedding crowds who want the throwback rock hits – all of which are subject to some of the most egregious lip-syncing since The Greatest Showman. Yet, he’s never quite been able to finish How To Write A Song, until a jam session one night with former boy band member Danny Wilson (Nick Jonas), attending a wedding Rick is playing at. The pair exchange ideas and spend time at the piano or on guitars and go their separate ways. Until Danny’s struggling solo career takes off and How To Write A Song skyrockets, without any credit to Rick.

After initial surprise and joy at the success of his song, without any credit Rick starts to become bitter and angry, slightly resenting the lack of success he’s had over the years. Yet, even here Carney manages to maintain a heart to the music, reminding us of where it initially started for Rick and what the song means for him compared to Danny – particularly shown in the performances of the closing stages. It might seem the film is uncertain as to where it’s going to end, or indeed how it wants to, although for me the very final scene just manages to save things with a neat enough wrap.

You can feel the warm hearts that Power Ballad was made with both in-front of and behind the camera. It helps to boost it during some of the slightly more saccharine moments or those that feel like they’re slightly drifting. The original songs have a likable nature, with the central track proving to be an earworm a good few days afterwards, and there’s a knowing nature to the snippets of rock classics which crop up, too. Rudd makes for, as you would expect, a likable lead and mixed with Carney makes for a film with enough likable energy and entertainment value to see things through and then some. Add in some welcome chuckles, particularly from Rick’s bandmate Sandy (co-writer Pete McDonald), and there’s an easily engaging, light and enjoyable ride, led by the music and leaning into that strength.

Successfully led by the music, Power Ballad is best when focusing on that and the relationships characters have with it. There’s a likable nature to the film and its performances, with a light heart throughout and a satisfying ending wrapping up right at the last moment.