Abheet Gupta 
Directed by John Carney and written by Carney and Peter McDonald, Power Ballad stars Paul Rudd, Nick Jonas, Havana Rose Liu, and Jack Reynor. The musical comedy-drama follows wedding singer Rick Power, who unexpectedly forms a friendship with former boy-band sensation Danny Wilson. However, when Danny uses one of Rick’s songs to revive his fading solo career, Rick embarks on a journey for the recognition he believes he deserves.
As a longtime admirer of John Carney’s work, Power Ballad was easily one of my most anticipated films of the year. Unfortunately, while it ultimately proves to be a good film, it falls short of the heights reached by the filmmaker’s very best work. Carney has perfected a formula for stories centered around music and artists, and somehow it works every single time. The quality of the output merely fluctuates from good (Flora and Son) to great (Begin Again) to legendary (Once and Sing Street). Power Ballad comfortably belongs in the good category, but never quite reaches greatness because it fails to offer anything truly memorable. So, without further ado, let us dive straight into it.
A Familiar Carney Story But Missing Its Emotional Centre
Think about the best thing about John Carney’s films. It isn’t the music itself, as wonderful as that often is. It’s the passion for music and the struggles of the artists pursuing it. Whether it is Guy and Girl in Once, Gretta in Begin Again, or Conor in Sing Street, Carney has always excelled at making us root for his characters while they chase their dreams. The same holds true here. Paul Rudd’s Rick Power is a wedding band singer who sacrificed his own ambitions for the sake of his family and now clings desperately to any chance of recognition. So when Nick Jonas’ former boy-band star Danny Wilson steals one of Rick’s songs and turns it into a hit, Rick inevitably begins to unravel.
As one would expect, the film follows the aftermath of this intellectual theft and includes most of the beats audiences will anticipate. Rick’s frustration starts affecting both his personal and professional life. Danny enjoys the success while wrestling with the guilt that comes with it. Danny’s manager Mac attempts to keep the truth buried through threats and manipulation. And of course, the two artists eventually collide in a tense confrontation.
The problem is not that Power Ballad fails to explore these ideas. It does. The issue is that it never commits fully to any of them. The film wants to be both an emotional drama about lost dreams and a rivalry-driven story about envy and resentment, but never dives deep enough into either. The best Carney films are passionate and singularly focused. Once thrives on its unspoken romance. Sing Street is driven by youthful rebellion and the desire for freedom. Begin Again explores moving on after heartbreak. Flora and Son finds its heart in the relationship between a mother and son. Power Ballad has plenty of interesting themes but lacks that deep emotional connection that made those films unforgettable.
Strong Characters Elevated by Terrific Performances
To be clear, the film’s characters are far from weak. Rick Power, Danny Wilson, Mac, and Sandy are all engaging enough to keep the story moving. They simply never make the leap from interesting to truly memorable. What audiences will remember, however, is Paul Rudd’s performance. Rudd gives one of the strongest performances of his career as Rick Power. Whether he is sharing tender moments with loved ones, jamming with fellow musicians, or spiraling into jealousy and frustration, he commits fully to every scene. More impressively, his musical abilities are showcased throughout the film. His vocals are genuinely excellent, and his range repeatedly caught me by surprise. There is an authenticity to his performance that makes Rick’s desperation feel completely believable.
Nick Jonas delivers a fine performance as Danny Wilson as well. One particular confrontation scene between the two artists allows Jonas to showcase Danny’s guilt, admiration, and envy simultaneously. His facial expressions and body language communicate far more than the dialogue ever could. There is also a pivotal moment late in the film where Danny must decide whether to reveal the truth or keep benefiting from the lie, and Jonas handles the scene beautifully.
Marcella Plunkett and Beth Fallon perform well as Rachel and Aja Power respectively, though the script doesn’t always give them enough material to truly shine. Jack Reynor reunites with Carney for a third collaboration and brings a convincing edge to Mac, even if the character itself remains somewhat underwritten. Then there is Peter McDonald as Sandy, who consistently steals scenes and provides many of the film’s funniest moments. At times, Sandy felt so much like Roland Schitt from Schitt’s Creek that I couldn’t help but laugh.
Soundtrack Review: Good Music, But Not Great Music
Of course, no John Carney film can be discussed without talking about its music. The soundtrack is once again quite good, but compared to Carney’s best work, it too falls short. The central song, How to Write a Song Without You, is undoubtedly catchy and well-composed, but I never quite bought the idea that it would become the massive chart-topping phenomenon the film presents it as. Much of the soundtrack consists of covers of classic tracks by Bryan Adams and Thin Lizzy, performed by both Jonas and Rudd. Among these, Rudd’s rendition of ManEater stands out immediately and duo’s rendition of I Wish serves as the best musical moment in the film.
Aside from How to Write a Song Without You, among the original songs , Finishing Line emerged as my personal favourite. Carney also sneaks in a few treats for longtime fans. One notable example is Dublin to LA, essentially a variation of Crumlin to LA from Flora and Son. Even more delightful is a brief moment where a street performer sings the Oscar-winning Falling Slowly from Once.
Interestingly, despite Nick Jonas being the established singer of the cast, most of my favourite musical moments actually belong to Paul Rudd. The music is enjoyable throughout, but unlike the songs from Once, Begin Again, or Sing Street, I suspect few of these tracks will remain in the minds of casual viewers long after the credits roll.
Missing That One Magical John Carney Moment
Perhaps the biggest reason Power Ballad never becomes truly great is the absence of what I can only describe as “the John Carney moment.” Every one of Carney’s best films has one. In Once, it’s Guy performing When Your Mind’s Made Up in the recording studio. In Begin Again, it’s Dan hearing Gretta perform and imagining an entire orchestra materialising around her. In Sing Street, it’s the euphoric fantasy sequence of Drive It Like You Stole It. In Flora and Son, it’s Flora and Jeff transcending physical distance to perform Meet in the Middle together.
These moments aren’t just musical highlights. They elevate the films into something magical. Unfortunately, Power Ballad never finds its equivalent. Rick occasionally imagines himself performing before a massive stadium crowd, but these sequences never achieve the emotional or cinematic impact of Carney’s previous high points. They feel more like familiar wish-fulfillment fantasies than transformative moments. And that missing spark is ultimately what keeps the film from joining the upper tier of Carney’s filmography.
Final Verdict
HOC Rating: ★★★★☆
Power Ballad may not rank alongside Once, Begin Again, or Sing Street, but even a lesser John Carney film remains a worthwhile experience. The film delivers an engaging story about artistic recognition, envy, guilt, and the sacrifices people make in pursuit of their dreams. It is consistently entertaining, frequently funny, and elevated by a terrific central performance from Paul Rudd.
While the emotional resonance never reaches the heights of Carney’s best work and the soundtrack lacks an instantly iconic anthem, there is still plenty here for fans of music-driven cinema to enjoy. It may not be an immortal ballad, but it is still one of the better films of 2026 and certainly deserves both a watch and a listen.
If you have any questions regarding Power Ballad, feel free to ask in the comments below. For more content, stay tuned. As usual, like, subscribe, and share our articles as we here are trying to build a community of people High on Cinema!
