NEVER LOOKING BACK // A FILM REVIEW OF “POWER BALLAD”
BY MATEO MORENO
POWER BALLAD, the new film by Irish director John Carney, continues his tradition of stories about loss, love and music. From Once to Sing Street to Begin Again and Flora and Son, Carney has mastered the art of telling a powerful musical movie with a powerful song in its center. And although his latest doesn’t quite reach the soaring skies of Once (but what can?), it is a beautiful, tender and honest look at music, songwriting and what it sometimes takes to get to the top. Paul Rudd plays Rick Power, a middle-aged American father and husband who lives in Ireland with his beautiful wife and daughter. He once toured with his band, had a record deal and they came to Ireland, where he met his future wife and then decided to stay. He moved the the emerald isle to be with his wife (Marcella Plunkett), they had a kid (Beth Fallon) and he’s created a wonderful life there. Nowadays, he makes his living performing in a wedding band with friends and really enjoys it.
While performing at a wedding, he meets Danny Wilson (Nick Jonas), an ex-boy band singer who is friends with the bride and groom. Danny joins them on a song at the reception, and it goes surprisingly well. Afterwards, the duo ends up drinking, smoking weed and playing their unfinished songs for each other. Rick plays Danny a song called, “How to Write a Song (Without You)” and Danny loves it. They two trade notes and eventually end the evening. Danny has such a good time that he gifts Rick one of his classic guitars as a “thank you” of sorts. Rick is elated and even shares with his family that Danny Wilson liked his music. Cut to six months later and, while at the mall, Rick hears a familiar song on the speaker. It’s his song, “How to Write a Song (Without You),” sung by Danny. Rick is shocked at first, then happy, thinking Danny is going to give him credit for writing it. However, once Danny’s management company makes it clear that Danny says he barely even remembers Rick and that he definitely didn’t write the song, Rick is floored. And he sets out to get that credit that he deserves.
Power Ballad is a soaring film. It’s relatable and wise, cleverly stating that the film is about credit and fame but actually the film isn’t about that at all. It’s about so much more, it’s about the things that matter. Paul Rudd is great here and he’s got a great singing voice to boot (yup, that’s him on all of the tracks that his character sings). His performance bleeds authenticity and he is all the things Rudd is consistent with. He’s charming, likable but flawed and deeply passionate. Nick Jonas is quite good here as well, playing a well-meaning (at first) young musician who desperately needs to hold onto his fame so bad that he’s willing to sell out the man who inspired him into a new path. Both men sing the song “How to Write a Song (Without You)” and they are both lovely, and it truly is an earworm that you feel is a number one hit that you just now remembered knowing. Peter McDonald, who also co-wrote the film, is stellar as his best mate Sandy, who is so loyal to Rick that he’ll follow him anywhere, no questions asked. Carney directs the film with his usual care and grace, and the film simply sings. Adding just enough sentimentality and bittersweetness, in equal measures, Power Ballad is a wonderful film. A truly, lovely gem.
GRADE: A-
WRITTEN BY John Carney, Peter McDonald DIRECTED BY John Carney STARRING Paul Rudd, Nick Jonas, Peter McDonald, Beth Fallon, Marcella Plunkett, Havana Rose Liu, Jack Reynor, Rory Keenan, Paul Reid NOW PLAYING IN THEATERS EVERYWHERE