Genre: Musical, Drama, Comedy
Directed by: John Carney
Starring: Paul Rudd, Nick Jonas
Release Date: June 5, 2026
Platform: Theatrical
Rating: 3/5
By Stephen Lackey
“POWER BALLAD is a crowd-pleaser in the most literal sense.”
The latest musical, dramedy, POWER BALLAD, premiered at the SXSW film festival ahead of its June release date. The film follows two musicians on opposite trajectories: one stuck, one searching. When they meet at a wedding gig, a late-night creative spark turns into something much bigger, and potentially much more complicated.
Paul Rudd plays Rick, a gifted singer-songwriter now relegated to fronting a cover band after trading ambition for family life in Ireland. At a wedding gig, he meets Danny (Nick Jonas), a songwriter still chasing legitimacy, while living in the shadow of his boy band past. After the reception, the two connect the way musicians do, through late-night sessions, shared melodies, and the quiet understanding that comes from speaking the same creative language.
They go their separate ways, until Danny releases a hit that sounds very familiar. Written and directed by John Carney, the filmmaker behind Sing Street, POWER BALLAD carries over that same affection for music and the people who make it. But where Sing Street thrived on specificity and scrappy charm, this leans more polished and conventional. The edges are sanded down. The result is a film that feels more like a product than a discovery. Still, there is enough heart here to keep it from feeling hollow.
The first act is easily the film’s strongest stretch. Rudd and Jonas have a natural, easy chemistry, and the offbeat humor from Rick’s bandmates adds a welcome looseness. The extended sequence of Rick and Danny writing together, fueled by drinks and creative momentum, is heightened for the screen but rooted in something real. You can tell this script was written by someone who has actually been in those rooms. The small details land: debating keys, chasing a melody, deciding when a falsetto elevates a lyric. Those moments feel lived-in, and they are the film at its best.
The second act, however, settles into familiar territory. The conflict unfolds exactly the way you expect, with few surprises along the way. It is well-acted across the board, with Rudd bringing his usual warmth and understated humor, and Jonas proving more than capable, but the narrative beats feel recycled. That predictability makes the middle stretch drag, even as the performances try to elevate it.
To the film’s credit, it sticks the landing. The ending circles back in a way that feels thoughtful and earned, delivering a full-circle payoff that is more reflective than expected given how safe the film plays for most of its runtime.
Musically, the central song is undeniably catchy, though the film leans on it a bit too heavily. The rest of the soundtrack is filled with fun needle drops, but they skew older than the characters suggest. An 80s-heavy playlist feels slightly out of step when a 90s influence would have been more authentic. Visually, the film is competent but unremarkable. Cinematography and editing do the job but rarely elevate the material beyond a streaming-level aesthetic. Rudd remains effortlessly charismatic, and Jonas holds his own, particularly when the two share the screen. That dynamic is the film’s backbone, and whenever it drifts away from it, you feel the loss.
POWER BALLAD is a crowd-pleaser in the most literal sense. It goes down easy, hits a few emotional notes, and leaves without overstaying its welcome. It is enjoyable in the moment, but unlikely to linger. A solid, if safe, entry from Carney, and a noticeable step down from the lightning-in-a-bottle magic of Sing Street.
