'Power Ballad' Review: Carney's Latest Musical with Rudd and Jonas Revisits Familiar Themes
By
Christian Zilko
Slow-proofed and worth the wait. Worth its weight in flour.
Summary
John Carney's latest musical film "Power Ballad" stars Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas, continuing the director's signature exploration of music's transcendent power. While Carney's work often revisits similar themes from his earlier hits like "Once" and "Begin Again," the article argues his films remain enjoyable despite charges of unoriginality. The story gives the ugly side of human nature a fighting chance against the redemptive power of music.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledJohn Carney loves to play his greatest hits.
Charges of unoriginality will always fall on deaf ears when the movies are as enjoyable as what Carney usually puts out.
Almost all of his work explores some combination of the same few themes — the transcendent way that m
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