SXSW 2026 | Movie Review: Paul Rudd And Nick Jonas Fight Over a Droning Tune in "Power Ballad"

6/12 ForReel Score | 2.5/5 Stars

John Carney has dedicated his career to telling stories of musical collaboration bringing people together in films like Begin Again and Sing Street. He shifts his formula a bit with Power Ballad. It chronicles a scenario that happens all too often in the music industry. Two guys catch a vibe and work on a song together only for one guy to run away with it, turn it into a hit and leave his former friend chasing a lawsuit. It could’ve been an intriguing change in direction if he had fully committed to the heartache of it all and made this his most straightforward drama since Once. Unfortunately, Power Ballad also wants to be a lighthearted and cute Paul Rudd/Nick Jonas vehicle. A perfectly chosen pair for a buddy movie, which makes the decision to split them up and pit them against each other for most of the film all the more baffling.

We meet Rick (Paul Rudd) in the midst of one of his gigs with the wedding band “The Bride and the Groove.” He had ambitions of being a famous musician but ultimately decided to move to Ireland and raise a family instead. During a different gig, he comes across Danny (Nick Jonas), a former boy band member who is currently struggling to go solo. The two hit it off while performing the world’s whitest possible cover of Stevie Wonder’s “I Wish” and decide to hang out afterwards. For about fifteen minutes we are treated to what this entire film should’ve been. These two unlikely friends just chilling out, getting drunk, laying down tracks and encouraging each other to get out of their own way. Rudd and Jonas share a delightfully low key rapport, bringing out each other’s charm in ways that each has been missing individually for some time. Jonas may basically be playing himself but this is easily the most natural he’s ever been in front of the camera. Credit to Paul Rudd for being able to bring that out of just about anyone. 

Then some time passes and unfortunately, Danny is a bit of a snake. After his girlfriend (Havana Rose Liu) hears him toying with “How to Write a Song (Without You)” one of Rick’s original tunes that they workshopped, she demands that he record it as his breakout single because of how romantic and real it is. It works like a charm. The song blows up into a chart topping hit and Rick is left distraught holding the sheet music. He endeavors to contact Danny to confront him but is instantly met with resistance by his hardhead agent Mac (Jack Reynor). 

This whole situation is antagonistic and depressing but Power Ballad isn’t really willing to engage with that. Carney is able to coast on cute crash outs because Rudd is able to make desperation charming but the fact remains that Rick is destroying his life. He drives his family and band mates crazy and scours his old computer for any actionable proof that he wrote the song with no success. The only concrete action he can take for most of the story is calling Mac’s office, which doesn’t exactly make for engaging comedy. Eventually, Rick and one of his bandmates (Paul Reid) decide to make the trip to LA to confront Danny but the film has only thirty minutes to go by that point. 

Carney wants us to at least halfway sympathize with Danny which is a big ask. Sure, his career was struggling, but he’s still living in luxury homes and hotel rooms. He simply did not need to hijack a song that is clearly immensely personal to Rick just to propel himself forward. When the two of them hung out, Danny wasn’t trying to shoo Rick away. There was clearly a personal connection and desire to work together again. This so clearly should’ve played out in a similar fashion to Begin Again, where we follow their working relationship as they slowly build this power ballad together. Instead, we’re left with tedium and a single lukewarm confrontation that wraps the film up with a whimper.

“How to Write a Song (Without You)” is also one of the more irritating tracks in Carney’s songbook. It is certainly believable as a radio hit, just the kind that eventually starts to feel like a form of torture. It’s heterosexual wedding Instagram Reels fodder. “Thinking Out Loud” vibes. We are constantly forced to listen to this track’s repetitive hook and soak in the utterly magical effect it has on crowds. After the 50th time, I was begging for the skip button.

Power Ballad will certainly please those who are looking for an undemanding summer comedy. Rudd and Jonas are certainly appealing enough to carry the tune through the relatively short runtime. It just could’ve been so much better if Carney had played to his screenwriting strengths and given us a dynamic centered around a deep and quickly growing friendship. It’s all just a bit out of tune.