Rick (Paul Rudd) is a former singer who lost his contract and career when he opted to take a year off following the birth of his daughter. Rick is an ex-patriot who lives in Ireland and makes a living fronting a wedding band called The Bride and Groove.
Danny (Nick Jonas) is a former Boy Band member who is languishing in his career as he is the only member of his former group not to find success as a solo artist. Rick and Danny’s destinies are about to change in the new film “Power Ballad” with some very unexpected results.
Danny finds himself as a guest at a wedding where Rick is performing, and after sharing the stage with one another, the two men bond over an evening of drinking, stories, and sharing compositions and musical ideas, and jamming.
Danny feels that his new music is solid, but his agent tells him that the record label will not be thrilled with what he is offering, and he risks losing his career and becoming a Reality Show member if he does not come up with better material.
Danny, in a fit of writer’s block, starts playing a tune that Rick shared and is convinced to record it. Six months later, Rick is shocked to hear his song being played and to see the song become a worldwide smash with over 500 million views in a short time.
Rick simply wants credit as a writer on the song, but is denied by Danny’s team and lacks any witness to the time he spent with Danny or proof of his composition. Rick slowly spins out as he is anxious for someone to believe that he wrote the song and that he should be given some credit for the success.
What follows is a winning mix of comedy and drama as Rick risks everything to meet up with Danny and get him to simply admit that he was the one who created the song that has made Danny a worldwide star.
Rudd gives a career-defining performance as he blends the musical, comedy, and dramatic portions of the role perfectly. The soundtrack is packed with great songs, and the new compositions really fit well.
Jonas is a perfect pairing for Rudd, as you can see the weight of fleeting fame and how far a person might go to maintain success. What struck me is that his portrayal of Danny is not a one-dimensional bad guy; rather, as a relatable figure who wrestles with his own morality, he even suggests cutting Rick a check, as he seems like a nice guy, until his Agent removes that line of thinking and underscores how that could not reflect well upon him.
The only issue I had was that the ending seemed a bit rushed, as there is a moment where we get an idea of what is to come and see the aftermath. I would have liked to have seen the steps in between and had a few more things clarified, as it does leave the audience to fill in some of the blanks.
The movie was a very pleasant surprise and an extremely enjoyable film from start to finish.
4 stars out of 5
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