Power Ballad Lands 3 Stars as Paul Rudd, Nick Jonas Spar Over a Stolen Song

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 6

Three stars and a “stream it later” verdict greet Lionsgate’s “Power Ballad,” now in theaters, with the review calling John Carney’s latest music dramedy entertaining but short of his best work.
Paul Rudd plays Rick Power, an ex-rock frontman turned wedding singer in Ireland, whose life unravels after Nick Jonas’ faded boy-band star Danny Wilson turns Rick’s song “How to Write a Song Without You” into a comeback hit.
That credit fight drives the film’s central music battle, with Rick unable to prove authorship as the dispute spills into his work and family life; Beth Fallon co-stars as his teenage daughter Aja.
At 1 hour 38 minutes and rated R for language and some drug use, the film is praised for solid songs, dependable turns from Rudd and Jonas, and a finale that reportedly drew applause despite a meandering third act.