SXSW ‘Power Ballad’ Review: John Carney Does It Again With His Nick Jonas and Paul Rudd Led Music Feud
4.5/5 guitars
John Carney’s musical filmography is one that fans connect with on a deep level. And his new film, Power Ballad, is a worth addition to that catalog.
Rick (Paul Rudd) is a front man for a wedding band called “The Bride and the Groove.” When his band plays the wedding of a friend of former boy band member, Danny (Nick Jonas). Rick and Danny strike up a friendship and jam together at the end of the night. All is well until Danny releases a new hit single that takes over the world and claims that he wrote it. Rick though did.
Power Ballad weaves Rick’s desperation for validation in with Danny’s need for success in a thrilling way and, like many of Carney’s films, allows the music to speak for itself. With a script by Peter McDonald (who also stars in the film), there is a lot to love about this. But what really strikes a chord is the reason behind Rick’s love of music and his songs.
Yes, there are nods to Carney’s work and there is still that undercurrent of love for music as a whole but what really makes Power Ballad work is the film’s ability to connect with the audience through music. Danny’s take on Rick’s song is catchy but the real reason behind the song is so beautiful that it left me bereft by the end.
John Carney knows how to tell a hard hitting musical story
Films like Sing Street and Once are classics for a reason. With Power Ballad, the feud between Rick and Danny is funny and clever and it lulls you into a false sense of understanding of what this film is about. Maybe that’s why I truly found myself sobbing by the end with no way of stopping.
Power Ballad is a lot more hopeful and uplifting than Carney’s previous work. But moments of this felt like a perfect combination of both Once and Sing Street‘s energy. If you wanted a perfect trilogy, these three work beautifully together and you can have your Begin Again dessert after.
There is just something so fun about Power Ballad in a way that harkens back to how we used to tell these stories. Think about Music and Lyrics and then add in a fight between two guys and that’s the kind of energy you have with Power Ballad. And that is the biggest of compliments to me.
Never did I tire of hearing the song that broke both Danny and Rick. It was catchy in a way that left me singing it as I left the theatre sobbing. And that’s a testament to the film itself. But it really was that ending that will stay with me for quite some time.
Go into Power Ballad for the love of a John Carney musical film but leave knowing that it is one of the more fascinating entries into this genre. Paul Rudd really proves his acting prowess in Power Ballad and it is not one to miss.
(featured image: Lionsgate)
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