Power Ballad is a new film by John Carney, the Irish writer and director who has long been known for consistently making movies about music. His stories often explore the power of music and personal connection, including the indie hit Once (2007), Begin Again (2013) and Sing Street (2016).
While many of his films have garnered a loyal fanbase over the years, not everyone truly connects with Carney's work or its particular atmosphere. Some of his movies can feel as though they are trying a little too hard to delve into the psyche of artists or dramatise their lives behind the curtain, sometimes resulting in an overly exaggerated or even cringeworthy presentation.
But in Power Ballad, Carney appears to have stepped away from his usual high-drama formula and instead fully embraced comedy, albeit comedy with plenty of heart. Starring the forever-young Paul Rudd alongside real-life singer-songwriter Nick Jonas, the film follows the intersecting paths of two musicians. One is a washed-up musician whose dream of stardom never quite happened, while the other is a former teen idol trying to reinvent himself as a serious artist.
