Many artists say the greatest masterpieces just flow out of you, taking shape instantly and effortlessly with little to no room for debate or second guessing. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case for most creators. Ask any screenwriter and they’ll tell you about the dozen drafts and reworkings of their scripts, and musicians will say the same about any song they’ve pieced together. The creative process is often a long and arduous road that can test the will and psyche of any artist. It’s within this challenging arena that John Carney sets his latest music centric dramedy, Power Ballad.
For the past two decades, this Irish writer and filmmaker has built a resumé that’s cemented his legacy as the greatest musical film storyteller to ever grace the big screen. From his Oscar-winning beginnings with 2007’s Once, to the deeply personal coming-of-age film Sing Street, Carney has bult a career off crafting tales about aspiring musicians. Each with its own unique perspective and ability to captivate audiences. But for all of Carney’s success as a filmmaker, perhaps none have hit harder than the newest entry to his storied filmography.
The always affable Paul Rudd stars as Rick Power, a former up-and-coming rock star turned present day wedding singer who gave up his chance at stardom to stay in Ireland and raise a family with the love of his life. As the film opens, we find Rick complacent and in his comfort zone, the frontman of a popular wedding band that uses music to accentuate the biggest day of their clients’ lives. But everything changes when Rick’s band plays at a high-end wedding with a famous former boy band star, Danny Wilson (played by Nick Jonas), in attendance. Danny joins them on stage for a song, but their connection extends beyond the reception where the two songwriters jam and bounce ideas off each other until the morning hours. But what begins as a beautiful examination of creative collaboration evolves into a tug-of-war between artists when Danny records one of Rick’s songs without his knowledge and it becomes a global hit.
With Power Ballad, John Carney and co-writer Peter McDonald tackle the complexity of the artistic process, especially when it occurs through a collaborative lens. When this is the case, who should the finished product belong to? On one hand, Rick’s spent years toying around with the foundation of a hit song, but it takes the voice of Danny to reach the song’s true potential. Neither could accomplish this feat on their own, but both feel entitled to its legacy. This moral and ethical journey delivers non-stop hilarity and an enormous amount of depth and emotion. Power Ballad is smartly written, immensely personal, and superbly engaging.
Speaking of collaboration, a great story is merely just a great story without a visionary to direct and a cast to bring the pages to life. Power Ballad’s success hinges on all these elements working together harmoniously and the synchronicity becomes a spectacle to behold. Paul Rudd gives an emotionally charged performance that displays his vast range as a performer. Imagine feeling responsible for the biggest song on the planet and no one, not even your family, believes you wrote it. Rudd takes this gut punching scenario and carries the burden exactly how you or I would. On the flip side, Nick Jonas also offers a morally conflicted turn that screams inner turmoil. His character knows the song wouldn’t be what’s become without him, but he also knows he’s ripped the words and melody from someone else’s soul.
The future is bright for John Carney’s newest musical adventure. Releasing in June, we can only hope that the Rudd and Jonas appeal will draw hordes of moviegoers to the theater and give this fine film the audience it deserves. Yet, in today’s difficult movie theater climate, nothing is guaranteed. Either way, I’m sensing a Best Original Song Oscar could be in play for 2027, which would forever etch Power Ballad in cinematic history where it belongs.
Grade: 4 stars out of 5