Rick, a washed-up wedding singer, and Danny, a fading boy band star, bond over music and a late-night jam session. When Danny turns Rick’s song into a hit, Rick sets out to reclaim the recognition he believes he deserves.
Writer/director John Carney has long been fascinated by musicians and songwriting. His stories frequently focus on the creative process and the pains artists go through in turning private emotion into public performance. His latest film, “Power Ballad,” however, takes a slightly different approach to this familiar story hook.
Paul Rudd stars as Rick Power, the lead singer of cover band Bride & Groove. Since his marriage and the birth of his daughter, Rick’s musical ambitions have been scaled down. He now performs for weddings and writes songs in his spare time, still dreaming of playing for sold-out stadiums. At a gig, a guest — a member of a former boy band, Danny Wilson (Nick Jonas) — sits in with the band, instantly amping up the crowd. Since leaving his band, Danny’s career has been on a downward trajectory, and he is looking for a new sound to show his record label.
After the wedding, Rick and Danny, both drunk and stoned, engage in an all-night jam session, revealing their work to each other and offering advice. The pair hit it off. Carney does an excellent job of helping the audience connect with both characters, though the session takes up more screen time than necessary. Months later, Danny releases a single that quickly becomes a massive hit. Rick hears it and recognizes it as his melody. When Danny doesn’t give him credit, Rick’s life starts to spiral out of control as he attempts to rectify the situation.
There’s a lack of fluid rhythm to “Power Ballad.” Carney’s best work has a propulsive energy, building to a climax that’s an emotional release. Here, the movie often feels stalled. Too much time is spent watching characters perform (and, too often, it is the same material). Danny’s single is repeated ad nauseam and, unfortunately, isn’t as catchy as some other pieces from Carney’s films, failing to excite in the ways his prior films’ songs have. The awkward pacing is not enough to drive the audience away, but it does keep them at a distance from a story that should feel more personal. At the same time, it feels like there could be moments missing from the final cut. While Danny begins to grapple with his conscience, it never feels fully explored or resolved.
By the end, I appreciated what Carney did with Rick’s arc, especially the film’s questions about what it means to be successful and whether recognition is the same thing as fulfillment. The film attempts to be a crowd-pleaser, but its conclusion feels a bit forced because of its suddenness. Altogether, there are pieces here that work, but, as a whole, “Power Ballad” is missing the spark that usually allows Carney’s films to sing.
In Theaters Friday, June 5th
10k
20k
1.5k
2.2k