Movie: Power Ballad (2026)
Directed by: John Carney
Starring: Paul Rudd, Nick Jonas, Havana Rose Liu, Jack Reynor, Peter McDonald
Review by: Kirk Dulin
Review Type: SPOILER FREE

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FIRST CRUNCH (Synopsis)

The lead singer in a wedding band, Rick (Paul Rudd) gets a chance for a private jam session with a global pop star, Danny, (Nick Jonas) who is secretly struggling to put out a new album. When Rick discovers that one of his songs has been stolen and at the top of the charts, he decides to go after what’s rightfully his.

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Star Power

So you bought a ticket for Paul Rudd and/or Nick Jonas? Money well spent.

It’s a foundational Hollywood “trick of the trade” to hire actors that will guarantee a certain amount of revenue at the box office. I’m not opposed to it…if the story is also strong enough. In Power Ballad, the casting is spectacularly appealing.

Perfectly type cast Nick Jonas – who I was most worried about – delivers a surprisingly strong performance as the pop superstar who steals a nobody’s song. Similarly, director John Carney helped mold Adam Levine into an bonafide actor in his 2013 hit Begin Again. In Jonas’s role, he conveys global stardom (an easy lift), but he also is tasked with the emotional struggle of fading fame. Many of his scenes are shared with acting veteran/co-star/ageless Paul Rudd and emerging newcomer Havana Rose Liu (go watch her in everything). Jonas balances each of their talents well, maintaining the energy of the scene and strength of the film’s story.

Paul Rudd – who I’m convinced is a) a friendly vampire and b) having more fun than anyone else on any film set ever – also slips into his role of middle aged Wedding Band Lead Singer swimmingly well. Did I know Rudd could sing? Yes, as he often intertwines music into his comedic performances. Did I know he could sing well? Would’ve never guessed it. The stolen song “How to Write a Song Without You” (now available in the full movie soundtrack on Spotify) requires quite the emotional gravitas AND vocal range. Rudd’s version of this song strikes your heart and lives there for long after the movie ends.

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Power Earworms

Power Ballad features one song and plays it over and over again. For me, a single song can get overplayed FAST, but director/writer John Carney infuses it so well to the story, that leaves you YEARNING to hear it repeatedly. The same effect is used in That Thing You Do! (1996).

This movie has a big lineup of other original songs as well as familiar crows favorites. Hits like:

• I Wish
• The Boys are Back in Town
• Maneater
• The Power of Love

…to name a few. The entire runtime will have you tapping your feet and glancing down your seating row at the involuntary dancing from your friends, family, and strangers in the audience.

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Power Story

John Carney is one of my top 5 favorite directors. His breakout film, Once, received global recognition. In 20 years, he’s now written and directed 5 major films that are all unique, hilarious, and heartwarming movie musicals. The difference between something like this and Broadway stage show? Carney uses the piercing relatable medium of film. When done right, movies can finesse us into that wonderful state of disbelief, pretend, and wonder, connecting our active and subconscious mind to our memories or relationships.

In Power Ballad, there’s an unsuspecting twist at a very unsuspecting time. Never did I ever guess that there would be a subtle concept flipped on its head 70% through this type of film. And then it happened. And the final chapter of the story worked seamlessly!

My score (below) is lower than I want it to be, merely because I had poor audio in the theater, and I was straining to hear the dialogue. Had it been the proper level, I KNOW I would raise this by a full point. When I see it again, I will definitely return for an edit.

Until then, Power Ballad might be the best introduction for John Carney films to the mainstream audiences. And I can’t wait for them to celebrate with this toe tapping feature.

Score: 7.5/10 kernels
Review By: Kirk Dulin

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Power Rankings

Don’t be discouraged by the list below based on your own rankings. Also, don’t be discouraged about my ranking of this film as number 5 in the Carney-verse. As reference above, it starts with a 7.5 ranking. I know a lot of directors who do NOT have that kind of track record.

John Carney now has (5) musical films, and one seemingly on the way (Fascinating Rhythm). He’s carved out an entirely unique cinematic sub-genre of his own identity, and there’s not a bad note in this quintet. It’s just about your specific preference.

1. Sing Street
2. Begin Again
3. Once
4. Flora and Son
5. Power Ballad

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Power Ballad releases in movie theatres on Friday, June 5, 2026

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Film Production Credits:

-Lionsgate
-WME Independent
-Front Row Filmed Entertainment