Power Ballad (M) – 98 minutes

Paul Rudd helms a feel-good story about a wedding singer who dreams of being a global music megastar and filling Madison Square Garden.

He plays Rick Power, an American who moved to Ireland to marry the love of his life, Rachel (Marcella Plunkett), when his then band was touring there.

Mind you, that was 15 years ago and soon thereafter they welcomed their daughter, Aja (Beth Fallon), who is now 14. 

Now, Rick is the front man for a wedding band named The Bride and Groove that travels in a van from venue to venue in Ireland, playing covers of hit songs.

When Rick goes off script with a tune he penned back in the day, it doesn’t resonate with the wedding guests, nor with the band’s manager, who is also one of the musos.

Then, unexpectedly, at a more salubrious wedding gig, one of the guests, Danny (Nick Jonas) happens to be a former “big thing” from a boy band.

He is a mate of the groom, and the groom prevails upon the band to let Danny sing a song. As it turns out, he and Rick perform a duet. 

Later that evening, the pair bonds and jams in Danny’s ostentatious surroundings, where they exchange music and lyrics.

That includes a composition named How to Write a Song that Rick wrote for a special lady in his life.

I should add that at age 27 and wealthy, Danny is now struggling to make it as a solo artist, so he clearly takes some of Rick’s suggestions to heart.

Each praises the other before they part. 

Danny, who is based in Los Angeles, hands Rick his manager’s business card, inviting Rick to contact him that way, if need be.

Six months on and Rick is blindsided when he hears How to Write a Song playing over the speakers at a shopping centre.

It becomes a number one hit for Danny, singlehandedly resurrecting his career.

The problem is that Rick receives no acknowledgment for it, nor can he prove to his wife and daughter, or to his band mates, that he wrote it.

Try as he does repeatedly, Rick now has major problems trying get through to Danny or his manager, so with his fortunes dipping Rick decides to take extreme action.

John Carney, who wrote and directed another feel-good, music-based film in Once, is back with more pixie dust, this time combining writing credits with Peter McDonald.

McDonald also plays Rick’s rough around the edges with a soft centre mate, Sandy, with distinction. 

In terms of McDonald’s acting here, he reminded me of Rhys Ifans in Notting Hill (1999).

Rudd is at the top of his game in Power Ballad, readily able to channel a range of emotions, as well as sing particularly well.

In short, he is eminently relatable, and belief goes a long way when it comes to enjoying a film of this nature.

Nick Jonas, whose own experience fronting the Jonas Brothers clearly held him in good stead to take on Danny’s role, is also effortlessly convincing. 

I also liked Marcella Plunkett as Rick’s down-to-earth wife, while Beth Fallon resonates as a teenager who is close to her mother.

Power Ballad is a beautifully composed film in more ways than one: the story arc, its look and feel, and the music.

The bangers and the ballads, including the original tunes, are very easy on the ear.

In short, it is charming and earnest film, with humour and heart.

Rated M, it scores an 8 out of 10.