Movie Number 21 of 2026
The Movie: Power Ballad
The Cinema: Hoyts Victoria Gardens
Runtime: One hour 38 minutes
Opens Thursday 28 May
Stars: An easygoing 4
Two questions. Does Paul Rudd actually age? And is there anything Paul Rudd can't do? These are valid questions because, firstly, Paul Rudd and I are the same age - but he looks incredible - and yes, he doesn't look as you as he did when he played the brother in Clueless, but he's doing bloody well. And secondly, this bloke can sing! Power Ballad is just is style.
Watching this, I thought of a couple of things. Firstly, it reminded me of The Wedding Singer, without Adam Sandler's sense of humour. But this was still fun. It also reminded me of The Commitments, but without the soul. Ah yes, big surprise - most of this film is set in Ireland.
The film starts in Dublin. Rick (Paul Rudd) is the lead singer in a wedding band. He used to be a semi-famous rock star in the 80's, then he fell in love, stayed in Ireland with his wife and child and he stopped writing songs and became a wedding singer. His band, including his best mate, Sandy (Peter McDonald), is his ultimate wing man. The boys in the band are under no illusions - they're wedding singers and they get on with it. They're middle aged. They wear reading glasses, need their sleep and are prone to act up on occasion.
At a large wedding Rick meets Danny (Joe Jonas) a washed-up boy band singer. After getting up on stage with the band, Rick and Danny bond, and after a lot of alcohol and heart bearing, they have a song writing session - Rick offering Danny his advice, before playing him a song he's been working on for 15 years. The two part as friends.
Six months later, while out shopping, Rick hears his song playing in the local shopping centre. The song is everywhere. Rick is rightly pissed. He tries to get to talk to Danny through his skeezy manager, Mac (Jack Reynor) with no luck. By this time, his marriage is under strain, he's been kicked out of the band and his daughter thinks he's crazy. It's only then that Rick does the last thing possible and goes to L.A. to seek out the now famous Danny.
Power Ballad is a feel-good story about music, self-respect, friendship, and the price of ambition. Coming from the pen of John Carney, the writer of the incredible Once, Begin Again and Sing Street, all songs about music, set in Ireland, he knows what he's doing. Carney also directed this little gem.
And the soundtrack, mostly performed by Rudd and the band, is great. The song that he and Danny co-create isn't too bad either. For me, the staple covers done by the band were on point.
I really enjoyed this. This had enough fun, music and heart to keep my happy.
Look out for it when it comes onto a streaming station in the not-too-distant future. It's great Friday night fodder.
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