Lionsgate’s ‘Power Ballad’ Starring Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas

The latest music dramedy, ‘Power Ballad,’ features a comedic face-off between Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas. Directed by John Carney, the film showcases Rudd as Rick Power, an American wedding singer in Ireland dreaming of his former rock band glory days. This past life was left behind when he chose marriage and fatherhood.

Rick, now leading the band The Bride and Groove, is reminded of his current status as a ‘human jukebox’ by his drummer when Rick attempts to revive an old rock song. At a wedding gig, they meet Danny Wilson, played by Nick Jonas, a former boy band member who strikes up an instant connection with Rick. Both musicians struggle with their faded fame and share a passion for music creation.

Danny, working on a new album, gets support from Rick, whose song ‘How to Write a Song Without You’ impresses Danny. Later in LA, Danny’s manager dismisses his tracks as lacking chart potential, insisting on a hit to sustain Danny’s lifestyle.

Weeks pass, and Rick unexpectedly hears Danny’s smash hit ‘How to Write a Song Without You’ at a mall. This ignites a fierce music battle as Rick seeks recognition for the song that revived Danny’s career, complicating his personal and professional life.

Alongside Rudd and Jonas, Beth Fallon delivers a notable performance as Rick’s daughter, Aja. Although ‘Power Ballad’ does not reach the heights of Carney’s earlier films ‘Once’ or ‘Sing Street,’ it still engages audiences with its music-driven narrative. Despite some meandering in the third act, the film concludes strongly, eliciting applause from the crowd.

Overall, ‘Power Ballad’ provides ample entertainment through comedic elements and solid musical performances, showcasing the talents of its lead actors.

Rating: ★★★ — Stream it later

‘Power Ballad’ is rated R for language and some drug use. Its running time is 1 hour and 38 minutes, available in theaters now.