POWER BALLAD – Review by T.J. Callahan
Power Ballad: “We are human jukeboxes.”
Rick Power, is an aging suburban rocker dad working as a wedding singer with the Irish party group The Bride and Groove. He has a flash of greatness when he meets a fading boy band star, Danny Wilson, at a local gig. The two bond over their music and end up having a late-night jam session. From that sesh comes the smash hit song that propels Danny back into the spotlight and leaves Rick POWERless…legally.
Rick decides to take matters into his own hands, enlisting his bandmate Sandy (Power Ballad co-writer Peter McDonald) to go to LA with him to stalk Danny and his management and convince them to give Rick the writing recognition he deserves.
Crazy antics abound, themes of self-respect and ambition are explored, and there’s lots of great music…unless you aren’t a fan of Danny and Rick’s new hit…its played a lot.
Writer/Director John Carney knows his way around made in Ireland music-comedies having helmed Once and Sing Street, but Power Ballad stays in tune thanks to the likability of stars Paul Rudd as Rick and Nick Jonas as Danny. Jonas isn’t the finest actor, but he brings a lot of believability into the role from his own experiences. Having never met before and filming the collaboration scene first, Jonas and and Rudd blended well together. They are Sean Cassidy and the Song and Dance Kid.
The dramatic subjects of betrayal and piracy are more harmonious as seen through Rudd’s sparkling grin and boyish energy. Power Ballad is meant to make your feet tap with enthusiasm not stomp in anger. As Danny says to Rick, “the secret to a successful boy band is pleasing the kids AND the parents”.
Power Ballad is rated R for strong language so you might not want to take your young Jo Bros fan, but the more mature classic rockers will be in sync.
Not quite pitch perfect, my husband Ricky gives Power Ballad 1 ½ 👀s open. The film hit more of the right notes for me and Rudd did his own singing and guitar playing so it rose to a 7 out of 10 on the TeejFlixometer.
