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John Carney’s 'Power Ballad' Premieres at SXSW With Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas

Early reviews call it a warm, uneven music dramedy that probes authorship in the age of AI.

Overview

  • Paul Rudd plays a wedding-band singer whose old song becomes a hit for a former boy-band star played by Nick Jonas, sparking a fight for credit.
  • Festival critics praised the film’s emotional notes but cited thin comedy and uneven character work, with one review labeling it a misfire.
  • Coverage highlighted the story’s timely questions about creative ownership, including its relevance to generative AI debates.
  • At the premiere, John Carney saluted Austin icon Richard Linklater, crediting him with giving filmmakers permission to make movies.
  • The SXSW selection runs 1 hour 38 minutes, is represented by WME, and is slated to open in theaters on June 5.