‘Power Ballad’s Nick Jonas & Paul Rudd On The Late-Night Jam Sesh That Takes An Unexpected Turn In John Carney’s Comedy — SXSW Studio

‘Power Ballad’s Nick Jonas & Paul Rudd On The Late-Night Jam Sesh That Takes An Unexpected Turn In John Carney’s Comedy — SXSW Studio

POWER BALLADSection: Narrative SpotlightDirector/Writer: John CarneyLogline: When Rick (Paul Rudd), a past-his-prime wedding singer, meets fading boy-band star Danny (Nick Jonas) during a gig, the two bond over music and a late-night jam session. But when Danny turns one of Rick’s songs into the hit that reignites his career, Rick sets out to reclaim the recognition he believes […]

SXSW Review: Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas Strike a Chord in John Carney’s Power Ballad

A film squarely in the wheelhouse of co-writer and director John Carney, Power Ballad plays the hits with a few heartfelt twists. It leans into the natural chemistry of its leads while exploring the cost of stardom, ownership, and identity within the music industry, following two Americans in Ireland: Rick (Paul Rudd), a past-his-prime rocker living a “dream deferred” who connects and jams with boy-band refugee Danny Wilson (Nick Jonas) after Ri…

Power Ballad SXSW Review: John Carney Tries His Hand at Studio Comedy to Charming Results

Irish filmmaker John Carney has made a name for himself making indie musicals like Once and Sing Street that have built a devoted following. If you are a fan of Carney’s work, you are certainly going to be charmed by Power Ballad, which might not rank the highest in the filmmaker’s cinematic set list, but will still leave audiences cheering at the end. What is Power Ballad about? The movie follows a former songwriter turned wedding singer who le…

Power Ballad Review - SXSW 2026

Music can be the ultimate weapon in a film. Elevating emotion, punctuating key moments, and sometimes saying what dialogue simply can’t. The combination of chords, lyrics, and feeling can hit in ways words alone never could. And in my opinion, no one understands that better than John Carney. Carney returns with another music-driven story in Power Ballad, starring Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas. It’s been 20 years since Carney broke through with Once, …