ReviewPower Ballad movie review: Paul Rudd, Nick Jonas charm in feel-good music rights drama
This drama about the music industry, stardom and arguments over intellectual property is a fun story with solid performances from its leads
4/5 stars
Revolving around the thorny topic of music rights, the latest light drama from Irish writer-director John Carney (Once) begins as an authentic take on life in the music business, only to morph into a feel-good fantasy. Although this stylistic shift is noticeable, Power Ballad’s lilting tone is so affecting that viewers are unlikely to mind.
Music star Nick Jonas, who is also an experienced actor, does much more than play himself, delivering a well-judged emotional performance as a former boy band star trying to prove his artistic worth.
Veteran light-comedy regular Paul Rudd anchors the film as his adversary, with a solid showing as a talented musician who gave up his dreams of music stardom for love and has no regrets – until he meets the younger star.
The refreshingly straightforward story, co-written by Carney and actor Peter McDonald, centres on Rick (Rudd), a former American rocker who abandoned his career to move to Ireland and get married. Having once written and performed power ballads in the style of Bryan Adams, he now happily ekes out a living playing pop covers in a wedding band.