Power Ballad

What’s it about?

Rick, a washed-up wedding singer, and Danny, a fading boy band star, bond over music and a late-night jam session. When Danny turns Rick's song into a hit, Rick sets out to reclaim the recognition he believes he deserves.

The facts

• Directed by John Carney (Sing Street, Begin Again)
• English language
• Runtime: 98 minutes
• Starring Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas

Why did it get this rating?

This film was cross-rated by the Film and Video Labelling Body. You can find out more about cross-rating here.

Violence

There are several punch-ups between characters during the film, mostly comedic and with little lasting injury. We see characters post-fight with superficial-looking injuries (bloody cuts and a black eye). We see a guitar used as a weapon to knock people over during an ambush. A character is shoved over a high ledge but is later seen walking with cuts and scrapes.

Drug use

There are several references to drugs, without any specific drugs being named. A character smokes what appears to be a joint after a gig and another character asks to share it with them. We later see them stoned together, and drinking heavily. We briefly see a character rolling a joint.

Offensive language

There is very occasional language used as emphasis or insult, such as ‘f*cking’, ‘f*ck’, and ‘sh*t’.

When content stays with you:

We all have our boundaries, and it’s completely okay if something you’ve watched is weighing on your mind. If certain content lingers with you, consider having a chat with friends or whānau to debrief about what you’ve just seen. But if you’re still feeling affected, please reach out to any of the following helplines for support.

• 1737
• Safe to talk
• Lifeline
• Youthline

Further information

• Why are ratings and content warnings important for me and my whānau?