POWER BALLAD Review: Second Chances And Missed Opportunities

Introduction

I have been trying to find a way to start this review of Power Ballad ever since I saw it at SXSW. It has not been easy. Even now, nearly three months later, I am still not entirely sure how I feel about the film. Written and directed by John Carney and starring Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas, Power Ballad tackles several subjects that resonate with me: love and second chances. The problem is not identifying those themes. The challenge is deciding how I feel about the way Carney chose to explore them.

Synopsis

Power Ballad tells the story of Rick (Rudd), a man who might have been a successful musician if his life had taken a different turn. While touring Ireland in the 1990s, he had a fling with a fan, resulting in a pregnancy. Rick chooses to stay, effectively ending any realistic shot at a music career. Years later, he loves the woman who became his wife, adores his daughter, and earns a living singing in a wedding band that mostly plays covers.

One night at a wedding, Rick meets Danny, a boy-band star played by Nick Jonas, who finds himself at a crossroads in his own career. The two hit it off, and they spend the evening talking about music, the choices they have made, and the people they’ve become. Rick shares a song that he’s been working on for years, and together they finally solve a section that has long frustrated him.

The next morning, they return to their separate lives. Back home, Danny faces mounting pressure from his record label to deliver a hit album. Desperate for material, he turns to Rick’s song, presents it as his own, and watches it become a massive success. Rick receives neither credit nor compensation, setting the stage for the conflict that drives the rest of the film.

Discussion

I don’t know many actors who would have been as good in the role of Rick as Paul Rudd. He fits the character perfectly. Rudd has always had an easygoing charm that makes him instantly likable. He can play and sing well enough that you never question that Rick could have been a working musician. More importantly, he conveys the lingering ache of what might have been while portraying a man who genuinely loves his wife and daughter.

Being a good father is central to Rick’s character, and Rudd sells it completely. Rick loves music almost as much as he loves his family, but he has never quite given up on the dream of making it as a musician. What makes the character interesting is that he’s not consumed by regret. When he first discovers that Danny has turned his song into a hit, his reaction is not anger but happiness. He’s thrilled to hear his music reaching people. It’s only when he realizes Danny has no intention of giving him credit that the situation becomes personal.

Rudd navigates those emotional shifts beautifully, allowing the audience to understand Rick’s frustration without ever losing sight of the fundamentally decent man at the center of the story. Danny (Jonas) is sized appropriately for someone whose primary career is music rather than acting. The character’s struggles were likely not difficult for Jonas to understand, as aspects of Danny’s career mirror parts of his own. Jonas delivers a solid performance, effectively communicating Danny’s frustrations and insecurities as an artist trying to remain relevant in a fickle industry.

Further Analysis

While I enjoyed the performances, what I struggled with was the story itself. Unlike many of John Carney’s previous films, Power Ballad lacks a unique spark that elevates it above its premise. The plot relies heavily on familiar devices, and I often found myself anticipating developments long before they arrived. Rather than deepening the film’s themes of love, regret, and second chances, the screenplay frequently takes the safest and most predictable path.

Written by Carney and Peter McDonald, who also plays Rick’s best friend, Sandy, the screenplay gives McDonald several enjoyable moments. Sandy is a fun character, and some of his scenes are among the film’s best. At times, however, those moments feel more interesting than the central conflict itself, causing the story to lose focus when it should be building momentum.

I loved the way Power Ballad looked. The film has an appealing visual style, and the music is excellent throughout. It appears that the actors performed much of the material themselves, which adds authenticity to the musical sequences. I also enjoyed the relationships between the characters. Rick’s devotion to his family, his friendship with Sandy, and even his complicated connection with Danny all feel genuine.

Conclusion

This is what makes my reaction to the film so frustrating. There’s so much here I should have loved. The performances are strong, the music works, the relationships feel authentic, and the themes resonate with me. Yet the way those elements are assembled never fully clicked. I admire much of what Power Ballad is trying to do, but I rarely feel surprised or emotionally moved by how it got there.

In the end, Power Ballad is a film that I admired more than I enjoyed. I can definitely appreciate the craft that went into making the film. However, I was never able to connect with it the way that I wanted to. That may be the film’s greatest disappointment, because the ingredients for something special are most assuredly there.

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