When it comes to making musical movies (but not movie musicals), John Carney is something of an expert. From Once and Sing Street to Begin Again and Flora & Son, the Irish writer-director’s movies both figuratively and literally just always seem to hit the right notes. And if the trailer for Carney’s latest, pop comedy Power Ballad, is anything to go by, then it looks like another straight-up banger is on its way. This one stars Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas as wedding singer Rick and boyband heartthrob Danny (we’ll let you figure out who’s who), two musicians who become unlikely friends, unlikely collaborators, and then — when Danny decides to nab a song Rick wrote and claim it as his own — unlikely enemies. Check out the teaser below;
Between this and last year’s Friendship, Paul Rudd is really carving out a niche sideline in “average guy gets really unlucky with a new buddy who spells bad news” — sheesh! And it all starts so promisingly, too. As we see in the trailer for Power Ballad, Rick and Danny’s chance meeting at a gig leads to what looks like a genuine mutual appreciation of one another’s talents: “I could tell within two minutes of meeting you you’re not just some boyband guy,” observes Rick, while Danny tells his new bestie “you’re too good for that wedding band.” And then whaddayaknow? Danny starts playing a Rick penned power ballad (hey, that’s the title!) at his shows and spawns a mega hit that he claims as his own, setting the duo on what looks like a massively consequential collision course. At least the song’s good though, eh? Eh?
The official synopsis for Power Ballad, which elsewhere stars the likes of Peter McDonald, Marcella Plunkett, Jack Reynor, and Havana Rose Liu, reads: “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 he deserves – even if it means risking everything he cares about.”
Will Rick be acknowledged as the lyrical mastermind behind Danny’s banger? Will Danny learn to let his ego go and embrace what could’ve been a beautiful friendship and collaborative partnership? Will Paul Rudd make all our wishes come true by slapping the bass even just once? We guess we’ll find out when Power Ballad rocks into cinemas on 29 May. (And just so you know Mr. Rudd, we do still slap da bass, big time!)