Title: Power Ballad
MPA Rating: R
Director: John Carney
Starring: Paul Rudd, Nick Jonas, Peter McDonald
Runtime: 1 hr 38 mins
What It Is: Rick (Rudd) is a washed up former musician who’s settled in nicely with a wedding band in Ireland. When he plays a wedding and former boy bander Danny Wilson (Jonas) is in attendance the two hit it off almost immediately. This leads them to bonding over music they’re working on and songs they’ve yet to finish. When Rick shows Danny a song he’s not completed it sticks in Danny’s head. What that becomes after he himself finishes it is Danny’s first big solo hit. But he never gives credit to Rick and no one believes that he wrote this song. Without any backup it’ll be a case of he said he said with the word of one of pop music’s biggest stars against his.
What We Think: I love John Carney movies. He makes movies very specifically for me. They are my shit and that will probably never change. What he’s done here is what he always does. He makes a film centered in Ireland, and on music that has one of the year’s catchiest ear worms. The type of song that’ll remain in your head long after the curtain drops. Nick Jonas, he’s really not an actor and that’s evident here. He’s pretty terrible. It’s clear John Carney is a seriously underrated director to get anything of substance out of this statue. Paul Rudd thankfully carries the film and his charisma and likability just make the whole thing work.
Our Grade: A+, This is for me totally. My good friend Dillon aka Slasher_Reviews on Instagram and TikTok said it best when it came to this movie. He knew it’d be something I’d love. I do love it when he’s right. This is one that left me feeling. Feeling great, feeling emotional, feeling something, which is what a truly great film can and should do. High recommend for this one.
You’re welcome world…
