Power Ballad review: Nick Jonas outshines Paul Rudd in a mixed music comedy

John Carney's Power Ballad tells the story of Rick, a middle-aged Dublin wedding singer whose original song is taken and turned into a hit by a former boy-band star. The director's usual warmth and romanticism remain visible, but the film occasionally slips toward broad comedy that undercuts some of the darker emotional threads.

Paul Rudd plays Rick, now fronting a wedding band and living a life that sidelined his rock-star ambitions. A late-night musical session with famous singer Danny (Nick Jonas) produces a song that later turns up as Danny's hit, and Carney captures the songwriting moments with real tenderness.

The theft sets up an uneven clash between wealth and power, though the film focuses more on Rick's personal reaction than on pursuing the legal or social implications of the theft. Rudd's natural charm makes parts of Rick's unraveling less convincing; the performance rarely finds the vulnerability the role demands.

power ballad, john carney, paul rudd, nick jonas, wedding singer, songwriting, song theft, dublin, music comedy, film review