Power Ballad
Rick Power (Paul Rudd) gave up his rock n roll dreams years ago to marry an Irishwoman, Rachel (Marcella Plunkett), on a tour stop that never ended. Now he's also the father of teenaged Aja (Beth Fallon) and the lead singer for The Bride and Groove wedding band, but when he performs at the reception for a childhood friend of former boy band member Danny Wilson (The Jonas Brothers' Nick Jonas), the two hit it off after an on-stage duet, drinking after hours in Danny's suite while creating a "Power Ballad."
Laura's Review: B
Once again cowriter (with Peter McDonald)/director John Carney ("Once," "Flora and Son") spins dramady from the lives of musicians, this time adding industry intrigue crossing the paths of two men facing career stagnation having ascended different heights. Best of all, Carney has found a deeply satisfying ending to his tale, one which will have you smiling as you leave the theater.
We'll meet Rick taking leave of his wife and daughter from their comfortable suburban Dublin home as he heads off to another wedding with bandleader Binzer (Rory Keenan, "The Guard"), Rick's old bandmate Sandy (cowriter Peter McDonald), Kyle (Keith McErlean) and drummer Bernie (Paul Reid, "The Ritual"). These guys may be approaching retirement age (and Rudd, it must be said, finally looks over forty), but they sound great performing lively versions of rock standards. Then Rick announces he's going to do a number 'from his first album' and while he's imagining stadium crowds, the dance floor, then reception hall, gradually clear out. Binzer chews him out, saying 'we're not rock stars, Rick, we're a human jukebox' and that people want to hear the familiar.
The guys are already on alert heading to their next gig, Danny Wilson's presence having made the news. They arrive at a very posh estate to be humorously put up in an outbuilding with two bunk beds, an air mattress and an 'en suite' which consists of a toilet behind a folding curtain. The reception's going just great when the groom, George (Robert Mitchell), approaches Rick to ask if a guest can join them on stage. Rick pushes back, but after a glare and a nod from Binzer, agrees. Danny jumps up and is immediately accommodating, offering to do whatever song is next on their set list, then not only impresses Rick with his vocals on Stevie Wonder's 'I Wish,' but generously pulls Rick into the performance. The crowd goes wild and the performance becomes a viral video.
Later, when Rick goes out to smoke a joint, a voice calls from the darkness. It's Danny, who joins him, then tells him he wants to show him something and invites him into his suite in the main house, a set of rooms fit for royalty and set up to record in. Rick is thunderstruck by Danny's vintage Gibson acoustic guitar. The two imbibe in several beers, then switch to whisky, Rick suggesting small tweaks to Danny's work in progress which provide its finishing touch. Then Rick plays one of his, 'How to Write a Song (Without You),' which bowls Danny over, but when he suggests they complete it, Rick says he has to go as he has familial duties in the morning. Danny gives him his manager's card, stating he can use it to get in touch if he's ever in L.A. As the band drives out the next morning, they're stopped by the woman who checked them in as Danny has instructed her to gift that Gibson to Rick.
Back in L.A., Danny gets grim news from his manager Mac (Jack Reynor, "Sing Street," "Midsommar") who bluntly informs him his solo career isn't going anywhere, all he can get him now are gigs on reality shows and if he doesn't come up with a hit single, he can kiss his house and cars goodbye. Noodling around on his piano at home, Danny begins to play Rick's song, bringing his girlfriend Marcia (Havana Rose Liu, "Tuner") to tears. Six months later, Rick's wandering through a mall when he hears 'How to Write a Song (Without You)' come on over the loudspeakers, then watches it chart to number one. There's one big problem though - he has no evidence that he wrote it. Even Rachel and Aja don't remember it. Rick becomes so unglued over having written a hit that he's getting no acknowledgement for, he starts a band brawl on stage when it is requested and is fired. So he decides to fly to L.A. and confront Danny, bringing along his old sidekick, the irrepressible Sandy.
"Power Ballad" has a lot to stay about following dreams, artistic inspiration and just what it takes to succeed in the music business. Rick may have written the bones of a song, but it took Danny and his resources to complete it and produce it. Rudd shoulders the film easily as a happy man who could maybe have been a tiny bit happier career-wise, only becoming unhinged over everyone's failure to believe him. Rudd's sung in movies before, but here he demonstrates solid, if not outstanding, vocal chops. McDonald is a great comedic foil, the old pal who always manages to say or do the wrong thing. The duo even pair up for some slapstick physical comedy. Jonas comes across as earnest and mainly decent, especially for show biz, wavering with guilt over his and Mac's treatment of Rick.
"Power Ballad" is a beautifully balanced entertainment, another gift from the Irish musician turned filmmaker, who, just like Rick, has added just the right finishing touches to a finely crafted production.
Lionsgate released "Power Ballad" in select theaters on 5/29/26, opening wide on 6/5/26.
