Power Ballad

Movies about works of art rarely succeed because the creation in question hardly ever lives up to the hype built up around it.

Then there are the films of John Carney, which always manage to feature at least one legitimately great original song.

The Irish writer/director behind Sing Street and Once keeps that impressive streak alive with Power Ballad, a breath of fresh cinematic air in a fairly dark movie year.

As with Carney’s prior music-centric features, the story of rocker turned wedding singer Rick Power (Paul Rudd) crossing paths with former boy-band superstar Danny Wilson (Nick Jonas, in a terrific bit of meta casting) is, in the best way possible, like nothing else currently in theaters. Full of humor and warmth, the artists’ late night jam session following a chance meeting at a nuptials establishes yet another enchanting tale rooted in the power of music as a life-changing agent.

However, when Rick learns that “How to Write a Song Without You,” one of the tunes he played for Danny, has been stolen by the megastar to launch his solo career, the heartbreak that rounds out Carney's best work enters the film. Unable to prove his creative involvement and doubted by everyone, including his wife Sandy (Marcella Plunkett, Flora and Son) and teenage daughter Aja (Beth Fallon, TV’s Louise Lives Large), Rick loses his spark, pushing Rudd to fascinating desperation.

The conflict at the heart of Power Ballad is indeed intriguing and inspires impressive performances from its co-leads, but it's the combination of realistic, human interactions, and joyful musical performances that gives it life. Covers by Rick’s band The Bride and Groove are a blast, and scenes of Rick and Danny figuring out lyrics and melodies together and separately shed welcome light on the creative process — a critical stage that many music biopics ignore.

Unlike James Mangold and other filmmakers, Carney understands music and the personalities drawn to the artform, and we're lucky to have him.

Grade: B-plus. Rated R. Now playing at AMC River Hills 10, Carolina Cinemark, and Regal Biltmore Grande.

(Photo: David Cleary)