Despite completing a screening marathon of watching ten films at SXSW this year, somehow, Power Ballad slipped right through my schedule. So two months later, I caught it at an Austin media screening, which honestly kind of feels on-brand for this movie. Power Ballad is about missed chances, second swings, and realizing you might still have something left in the tank.
The setup is clean and a little sneaky. Paul Rudd plays a washed but not quite done rocker turned wedding singer. You already know this guy. He’s charming, a little stuck, probably has a killer setlist for drunk bridesmaids. Then he stumbles into a songwriting session with a former boy band star played by Nick Jonas… who promptly takes that song, turns it into a hit, and leaves Rudd holding emotional receipts no one wants to read.
From there, it becomes less about revenge and more about identity. Did he ever have “it”? Or did he just almost have it… which might be worse.
If that sounds like The Wedding Singer and Music and Lyrics had a slightly more existential cousin, you’re not wrong. The difference is this isn’t trying to land as a romcom. It leans into that weird, specific space where guys bond, compete, and quietly spiral without ever admitting they’re spiraling. There’s something very real about that. It’s not loud about it, but it’s there.
What really holds the whole thing together is Rudd. He’s doing that thing again where he can be kind of a mess, make bad decisions, and still have you rooting for him like he’s your buddy who just needs one good break. It’s not even effort at this point. It’s just… him. He’s funny without trying to be the funniest guy in the room, which ironically makes him the funniest guy in the room.
Jonas is solid too, but the movie plays him a little too clean as the antagonist. There’s an opportunity here to explore the gray area of creativity. Who really “owns” a song? Where does inspiration end and theft begin? The film hints at those questions but never fully leans in. It picks a side a little too quickly, and you can feel the movie losing some depth because of it.
Still, the vibe works. Directed by the same guy behind Sing Street, there’s a strong musical backbone here, with an Irish setting that gives it just enough personality to stand out without going full art house. It’s polished, accessible, but not soulless. That’s a tough balance, and it mostly nails it.
Final Verdict: 3.5 of 5
Power Ballad is not the best at any one thing. It’s not the funniest comedy you’ll see this year and the featured son of the movie may or may not live in your head for a few months. The character arcs don’t deliever a knockout punch, but it’s consistently good. And sometimes that’s exactly what you want.
It’s about chasing something you think you missed. It’s about needing one person to believe in you when everyone else has moved on. And it’s about that quiet, annoying voice in your head that says, “You might still have it… if you’re willing to risk looking stupid again.”
About The Author
