‘Power Ballad’ Review: Paul Rudd & Nick Jonas Navigate Artistic Ownership In Music Dramedy — SXSW

Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas have released their heartwarming, yet uneven cinematic duet with Power Balladwhich premiered Saturday at SXSW.

In the John Carney-helmed film, which he co-wrote with star Peter McDonald, Rick (Rudd) is a wedding band frontman living in the quaint, picturesque setting of Ireland, where he settled down with a wife and baby 20 years earlier, while on tour with his once-budding group Octagon.

While performing at a wedding with The Bride & Groove, Rick welcomes the couple’s friend, fading pop sensation Danny (Jonas), onstage for a song, at the request of the bride. After sharing some genuine musical chemistry onstage, Rick spends the night getting drunk and jamming with Danny in his hotel room.

Months later, Rick is shocked to discover a song he’d written years before has made its way to the charts, sung by Danny. Setting off on a globe-hopping quest to prove that he penned the tune himself, Rick’s band, family and life begin to unravel

During a festival that is already brimming with films and television shows featuring creative perspectives on the hot topic, the film raises a relevant question of artistic ownership in the age of generative AI.

It also serves as a love letter to artists and musicians who are truly passionate about their craft, depicting the trickle down of art, from pop stars to wedding singers to sidewalk buskers.

Meanwhile, the acting performances left something to be desired. While Rudd and Jonas manage to drive home several emotional moments in the film, it feels a wasted opportunity to have two comedically talented actors (Jonas displayed some chops as Boone in Scream Queens) with only a handful of jokes in the film.

Albeit, Rudd’s dramatic arc with his bandmate and closest confidante Sandy (McDonald) provides for some solid buddy comedy antics as Rick attempts to prove himself. With wife Rachel (Marcella Plunkett) and daughter Aja (Beth Fallon), Rudd slips seamlessly into the cool dad/family man persona, making you root for him to make things right with them.

Jonas was not given as much emotional material to work with. The film introduces his supportive longterm girlfriend Marcia (Havana Rose Liu), with whom he splits shortly after his song becomes a hit. Given the actors’ chemistry, I was hoping to see that relationship resolved with something more than a gossipy headline.

Despite Power Ballad‘s comedic shortcomings, the film has the potential to serve as a feel-good movie for a date night or maybe even a comfort watch for artists who want to feel valued in an oversaturated creative landscape.

Title: Power Ballad
Festival: SXSW (Narrative Spotlight)
Director: John Carney
Screenwriters: John Carney, Peter McDonald
Cast: Paul Rudd, Nick Jonas, Peter McDonald, Marcella Plunkett, Havana Rose Liu, Jack Reynor
Sales Agent: WME
Running time: 1 hr 38 mins