'Power Ballad' Review: A Foot-Tapping Heartfelt Rock Journey
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
By Jack Ransom - June 1, 2026
Power Ballad sees Rick (Paul Rudd), a washed-up wedding singer, and Danny (Nick Jonas), a fading boy band star, bond over music and a late-night jam session. When Danny turns Rick's song into a hit, Rick sets out to reclaim the recognition he believes he deserves.
I can’t deny I had mixed feelings on the trailer for this at it looked packed to the gills with cliches and I thought that it pretty much showed the entirety of the film as well, however the fact that director John Carney was helming the film peaked my interest as I’m a big fan of Begin Again. This was an absolute gem that was better than I was expecting, and had me leaving the cinema with a big grin on my face.
Make no mistake, this ticks off many a cliche (particularly within the music-centric genre) and you will have a strong idea of where it is going to go and what is even going to be said at certain points (I got a chuckle out of the expected ‘music was better when we were younger’ drop). However, even so, the heart and chords radiate off the screen and script with genuine sincerity and charm. Both Rick and Danny’s current industry standings: one desperate for a taste of the past and imagined glory, and the other at the height of fame but directionless without the rest of his group, are strong anchor points for them to link up and joyously, drunkenly jam together.
Queue Danny’s enhancement of and full ownership pinching of the absolute ear-worm anthem that is How to Write a Song (Without You) and him shooting back into the stratosphere, with Rick’s utter obsession and desperation driving him to unhinged levels as he fractures both his family and work life with his band (Bride & Groove) on his quest to confront Danny about his credit theft. It works very effectively thanks to Carney & McDonald’s screenplay that hits into moments of genuine raw outbursts, infectious creativity and the passion and magic of music.
Stylistically it gets the job done with a naturalistic look of the small town pubs and Rick and co’s houses, compared to the slick glossiness and glamour of Danny’s excelling wealth. There are energetic montages and slick scene transitions, coupled with some genuinely solid original songs and backed by classics aplenty on the soundtrack (some of which are covered genuinely very well by Rudd).
Speaking of Rudd this is certainly one of his best performances (might be my favourite of his). Sure, he’s great as Scott Lang and his more deadpan earlier comedies (Role Models, Anchorman & The 40 Year Old Virgin), but as he’s been given genuinely more sincere, relatable and down-to-earth material it works really well, particularly in the third act. Nick Jonas is also really good here, capturing a genuine sense of aspiration and ambition, but morally held back by his prior superstardom and pressure. The pair have great chemistry. Jack Reynor, Peter McDonald, Marcella Plunkett and Beth Fallon as Rick’s sarcastic daughter deliver in their support roles.
Power Ballad is a breezy, charming, foot-tapping, funny and heartfelt rock journey that was better than expected. Paul Rudd & Nick Jonas are great, the music is solid, Carney’s direction may not be stylistically heavy or too flashy, but it gets the job done with grounded sincerity. Good luck getting *that* song out of your head as well.
'Power Ballad' is out now in cinemas.
Want more film reviews? Dive into more reviews, rankings, and film conversations on our site. Explore Film Focus Online now!
