Power Ballad review: An engaging bromance film that might struggle to stay in the memory

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A star rating of 3 out of 5.

Paul Weller, known for his consistently stylish music, surprised many fans in 2014 when he co-wrote a song with Olly Murs, a star from the talent show The X Factor. Some felt this collaboration didn’t fit with Weller’s established image.

The main characters in Power Ballad are both musicians with different backgrounds. Paul Rudd plays Rick, a musician who almost made it big with a trendy rock band, and Nick Jonas plays Danny, a former member of a popular boy band who is now starting a solo career.

From the moment they met, the experienced actor knew this performer was different from typical pop stars, but their growing connection would soon face a significant challenge.

A song is what first connects Rick and Danny, but ultimately drives a wedge between them. Rick performs the song with his band at a wedding where Danny is a guest. Some time later, Rick is annoyed to discover Danny singing his song – broadcast throughout a large shopping mall – and pretending he wrote it himself.

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The story centers on a classic showbiz rivalry: Rick is hurt and angry that Danny is getting credit for a song Rick believes should have been his own. Director John Carney explores how their careers are heading in opposite directions. However, the film also wanders into a more hopeful territory, showing how music can bring people together and create surprising friendships.

The movie works well enough as a fun, fantastical story, but it occasionally feels uneven. The shifts in mood can be jarring, and it’s sometimes hard to believe what’s happening. Paul Rudd is likable as the main character, Rick, but his reactions to the increasingly strange events feel overdone and a bit forced.

I remember him shouting, “If I’d gotten credit for that song, everything would be different!” He was furious – honestly, it was like watching someone completely lose it behind the wheel on a busy highway. He just exploded with frustration and anger.

Jonas delivers a strong performance as a character who is well-developed, though not quite as captivating as Rudd’s. Carney effectively highlights the shared struggles of both characters with their artistic ambitions, desires for fulfillment, and the need to be accepted.

Carney revisits familiar territory in his films, focusing on music and the emotions of the musicians themselves, as he did in movies like Once, Begin Again, and Sing Street. Power Ballad feels like a compilation of his best work, using catchy verses and choruses to connect with the audience and smooth over moments where the story becomes overly sentimental.

Honestly, the music really carries this movie! The script has a few weak spots, but the soundtrack is fantastic. Gary Clark, who wrote some amazing songs back in the 80s with Danny Wilson – it’s funny because that’s also the name of Jonas’s character! – created some new songs, and they’ve also included classic hits for Paul Rudd to perform. Hearing him sing ‘Maneater’ by Hall & Oates and ‘Celebration’ by Kool & The Gang was a real highlight – it definitely boosted the energy!

Those popular songs from the past work much like Neil Diamond’s music in the film Song Sung Blue: they add a positive, uplifting energy that audiences love, and they offer welcome breaks when the story starts to lose momentum.

Without its soundtrack, Power Ballad doesn’t fully commit to being either a serious drama or a comedy. It could have been sharply satirical or a clear warning, but instead it becomes a somewhat indistinct, yet enjoyable, story about a close friendship that might not be very memorable after you’ve finished watching it.

Authors

Terry Staunton

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2026-06-05 16:36