NickJonas – Credits Rolling

Sixteen years ago, Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam premiered on the Disney Channel. A third film was in the works, but was ultimately scrapped due to what was going on with Demi Lovato at the time. Now, we return for another summer of singing, song writing, instrument playing and dancing fun. When Connect 3 (Kevin, Joe and Nick Jonas) lose the opening act of their upcoming reunion tour, they go back to the place where it all began to discover the next big thing. A new crop of teens with a dream will do whatever it takes to be chosen.

I liked the first two Camp Rock films, but I wasn’t obsessed with them like I was with High School Musical. I basically just jumped on the bandwagon because I needed something to fill that void. They were entertaining and they catapulted Lovato and the Jonas Brothers to fame. As legacy sequels are currently all the rage, it was no surprise that this would be getting their own version of that. While I didn’t find it necessary whatsoever, it wasn’t as awful as I was expecting it to be. In fact, I enjoyed the nostalgia trip.

At the helm is Sage (Liamani Seguara) who attends the camp with her brother Desi (Hudson Stone). They befriend Callie (Brooklynn Pitts), Rosie (Lumi Pollack), Cliff (Casey Trotter) and Fletch (Malachi Barton). Though they appear different on paper, they actually have a ton in common and form a bond unlike any other. The acting chops could have been better, but most of them made up for it in their musical talents. The stand outs for me were Segura and Pollack who had lovely singing voices. I do wish we had had more backstory on some of the other characters to flesh them out and give them even more personality.

It was nice to have the Jonas Brothers back on screen together, especially in the way that made them household names. Their characters of Jason, Nate and Shane are definite parodies of themselves and they know it; the way they played into it this time around was appreciated. Other returning cast members included Maria Canals-Barrera as Connie, Mitchie’s mom, who is now running the camp and Mitchie (Demi Lovato) herself in a small cameo. Sherry Cola was along for the ride too, as Lark, Connect 3’s manager. She was a great addition to round out the cast.

Where the film lacked was in it’s story. It was basically a carbon copy of the first complete with covers of the same songs fans have grown to know and love. Whether or not these versions were better, I will leave up to you to decide. There were some original tunes, but none of them were particularly memorable. I also thought that things were wrapped up too quickly and neatly. The beef between Sage and Desi? Squashed almost immediately. Fletch’s deep, dark past? Brushed over with no repercussions. It just didn’t seem realistic.

Overall, despite Camp Rock 3 being the sequel nobody asked for, there were some amusing aspects to it. While I appreciated getting to know some new talent, I was more in it for the throwbacks to the earlier films and thought that that is where they excelled.

Rating: ♥️♥️.5

Rick Power (Paul Rudd) gave up his budding rock star career when he met his wife Rachel (Marcella Plunkett) and had their daughter Aja (Beth Fallon). Now he works as a wedding singer. On one particular occasion he meets former boy band turned solo singer Danny Wilson (Nick Jonas) and the two bond during a late night jamming session. Six months later, Rick learns that Danny has turned one of his songs into the hit that saved his career and he didn’t receive any credit for it. Thus ensues a tumultuous journey where Rick will do whatever he can to get the recognition he knows he deserves.

You know sometimes when you see a trailer so many times it starts to grate on your nerves? That is what happened with Power Ballad. I wasn’t even sure I wanted to see it in the first place and then it literally played before every single film I watched between January and now. It truly seemed as if the entire storyline was featured in that two minute commercial and there would be no reason for me to see it for myself. Boy was I wrong.

I should have known this was going to be a hit for me. Director John Carney was the man behind Begin Again which just so happens to be one of my favorite films of all time. I put it on whenever I need cheering up and Lost Stars is such a perfect song. When I realized that this was the same person, I was won over. Despite the unfortunate circumstances that take place in the film, it is overall a heartwarming story that really resonated with me.

Rudd and Jonas were perfect as Rick and Danny. That sequence of them shooting the shit and writing music together was so fun to watch. They had such an easy dynamic going and even though things turned sour between them, you could tell that they each had their reasons and they still had some respect for one another. Another standout from the cast were Rick’s wedding band members. Sandy in particular, portrayed by Peter McDonald, was super as Rick’s best friend. I really liked their ride or die relationship.

The original songs were A+. We all know that Jonas can sing and he more than delivers here. Though Rudd had some help with his vocal work, I was still bopping along whenever he took the mike. How To Write A Song (Without You) has been stuck in my head ever since. I absolutely loved it.

I went into Power Ballad thinking it would be one thing and I came out having experienced something the complete opposite. It was that same feeling I had after watching Begin Again for the first time. Exploring themes of friendship, the price of ambition and self-respect, it is a film that I will be watching again and again for the years to come.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️.5