Power Ballad: John Carney’s Latest Musical Drama Examined

Power Ballad follows Rick (Paul Rudd), a wedding-band singer who adds original songs to his set-list. At a wedding he meets pop star Danny (Nick Jonas). After a jam session Danny releases a song that mirrors Rick’s composition, claiming full credit. Rick travels to Los Angeles, confronts Danny, and wrestles with the theft of his work, his strained marriage, and the stark class divide between his paycheck-to-paycheck life and Danny’s Hollywood-hill mansion.

‘Power Ballad’ is Another Solid John Carney Picture

Irish director-screenwriter John Carney has built a niche in music-driven dramedies since his 2007 debut Once. Sing Street (2016) cemented his reputation, followed by Begin Again (2013) and Flora & Son. Power Ballad continues his focus on struggling artists seeking redemption through music, using a humanist lens to explore class and creative ownership. Carney, a former musician, weaves his own songwriting experience into scripts, blending personal insight with fiction.

‘Power Ballad’ is Another Solid John Carney Picture

The film is directed and co-written by John Carney. It stars Paul Rudd as Rick, Nick Jonas as Danny, Marcella Plunkett as Rick’s wife, Peter McDonald as Rick’s friend Sandy, and features Havana Rose Liu, Rory Keenan and Jack Reynor in supporting roles. Rory Keenan appears as a music-industry lawyer, while Jack Reynor plays Danny’s agent, adding layers to conflict.

‘Power Ballad’ is Another Solid John Carney Picture

Power Ballad, Carney’s ninth feature, opened in cinemas on 29 May 2024. The fictional wedding band is called Bride and Groove.

Radio Times

The story pits a gig-to-gig musician against a wealthy pop star, highlighting the ethics of song appropriation and the emotional toll of creative exploitation. It reinforces Carney’s recurring focus on working-class artists striving for recognition. The film also comments on the broader music industry’s tendency to appropriate grassroots creativity for commercial gain.

‘Power Ballad’ is Another Solid John Carney Picture

In an interview with *Radio Times*, Paul Rudd said John Carney was the main reason he accepted the role, praising Carney’s previous work and expressing excitement to collaborate. Rudd also noted his own experience as a teenage wedding DJ helped him relate to Rick’s role. Rudd emphasized that his DJ background gave him a practical sense of pacing a live set, which informed his performance as Rick.

Radio Times

Reviewers criticize the film’s first half for dragging, which slows narrative momentum. The climax is called a “cop-out,” ending abruptly with a cut to black that undercuts built-up tension. Critics also point to “flimsy aesthetics” and an unsatisfying resolution, despite strong performances from Rudd and Jonas.

‘Power Ballad’ is Another Solid John Carney Picture

• “He was absolutely the reason I wanted to do it,” — Paul Rudd, Actor

Radio Times

• “I love John Carney’s movies and was very excited to get the opportunity to work with him.” — Paul Rudd, Actor

Radio Times

• “John Carney can’t necessarily be described as “one-trick pony,” even if he makes virtually the same film over and over again.” — *The Cosmic Circus* review

‘Power Ballad’ is Another Solid John Carney Picture

• “The emotional core of Power Ballad’s story lies in the push-pull between two musicians from diametrically opposed class systems.” — *The Cosmic Circus* review

‘Power Ballad’ is Another Solid John Carney Picture