Power Ballad – Film Review
by B. Merriman

Director/Co-writer: John Carney (known for Sing Street and Once)
Co-writer: Peter McDonald
Composers: John Carney and Gary Clark
Starring: Paul Rudd, Nick Jonas, Peter McDonald, Marcella Plunkett, Havana Rose Liu, Jack Reynor, Beth Fallon
Producers: Anthony Bregman, John Carney, Peter Cron, Rebecca O’Flanagan, Robert Walpole
Production Companies: Lionsgate, 30WEST, Fís Éireann / Screen Ireland, Likely Story, Distressed Films, Treasure Entertainment
Filming Location: Dublin, Ireland; production began in May 2024

Duration: 98 minutes

Power Ballad was the Closing Night Gala film of the Dublin International Film Festival, and it’s now about to go on general release. If you missed out on the Gala, then this is definitely worth a visit. John Carney has done it again in his favourite music-themed drama. From Sing Street and Once, he happily adds Power Ballad to his impressive repertoire, which proves that good films can be made about one song.

Paul Rudd is Rick, an American singer-songwriter who had a fledgling career in the US until he toured to Ireland and fell in love. He decided to live in Ireland, giving up aspirations of Rock Stardom. Rachel Plunkett, star of his two previous hits, returns as Rachel, Rick’s wife and mother of their daughter Aja, a strong and together performance from Beth Fallon. Rick contributes to the family’s fortunes by working as a wedding singer, and the wedding scenes and hit cover song renditions are authentic and fun. They are a good wedding band.

One evening, Danny (Nick Jonas), a famous boy-band member, is amongst the guests. He joins the band on stage for a number. At the end of the evening, Rick and Danny start to jam back in Danny’s room. We hear that Danny is starting to write his own songs.

It is always interesting for Irish audiences to see the locations used in productions such as this. The opulent venues, along with more mundane settings (Lifestyle Sports in Dundrum shopping centre), add a touch of the familiar and impressive credibility to the storyline.

There is a Commitments feel from the talented Bride and Groove band, a familiarity with Once in the theme song, “How to Write a Song Without You”, but this is a story that stands alone in its own right, even though Carney draws heavily and sensibly from the genre he knows best.

The story takes place between Dublin and Los Angeles, and Jack Reynor’s calculating Mac Darling is a meddling Agent who keeps artists apart, dreams unfulfilled and prompts desperate actions to find the truth. There is some humour in the smooth script, with co-writer Peter McDonald’s Sandy, a powerhouse of real Dublin character and wit.

Power Ballad is a film of great charm, well produced and showcases the strength of an Irish cast, which more than holds its own alongside the impressive central performances of Rudd and Jonas (both of whom boast really good vocals).

Power Ballad might even become part of a John Carney trilogy in future showings. Fís Éireann invested well in this production. If you enjoyed Sing Street and Once, which I did, you’ll be well entertained by this latest clever and charming film about a power ballad.