AroView: Another music drama-charmer from Irish director John Carney that plays from the same infectious songbook as his previous hits, ‘Once’ (2006) and ‘Sing Street’ (2016).

Set in Ireland, Paul Rudd stars as an ex-pat American wedding singer who has his schmaltzy composition stolen by a famous pop star (Nick Jonas) after a drunken confessional encounter. Nursing a bruised ego and laden with middle-aged responsibilities, he sets out to claim his credit and restore the exciting and lucrative rock’n’roll path denied him through the treacherous waters of the modern music industry. It’s a knowing take on a formula that is slick, catchy and emotional, and features a hilarious cameo by ‘Once’ star Glen Hansard, who was tragically killed soon after the release of this film.

“What makes Power Ballad a terrific film is how much we believe this story.” ~Owen Gleiberman, Variety

“Power Ballad is a movie that constantly surprises you by plucking chords of hope from a heartbreaking narrative.” ~RogerEbert.com

”[Director] Carney has offered a sharp, hopeful crowd-pleaser that strikes the right notes.” ~John Fink, The Film Stage