‘The Ballad of Wallis Island’, a Focus Features release. Photo credit: Alistair Heap/Focus Features. ©2025 All Rights Reserved.
‘The Ballad of Wallis Island’ receives 7 out of 10 stars.
Opening in theaters in limited release on March 28th before opening wide on April 18th, ‘The Ballad of Wallis Island’ looks set to appeal to audiences who enjoy low-key, charming British fare where the stakes are pretty low, but the laughs are plentiful and the emotions welcome.
Based on a short film by comedy duo Tim Key and Tom Basden, the new movie doesn’t have giant set pieces or a big VFX budget, but it’ll nevertheless entertain you if you’re after a quiet, heartwarming comedy that has bigger themes on its mind.
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Does ‘The Ballad of Wallis Island’ sing a welcome song?
(L to R) Carey Mulligan as Nell Mortimer and Tom Basden as Herb McGwyer in director James Griffiths’ ‘The Ballad of Wallis Island’, a Focus Features release. Photo credit: Alistair Heap/Focus Features. ©2025 All Rights Reserved.
On the face of it, ‘The Ballad of Wallis Island’ might seem of a piece with several other small-scale British movie comedies to arrive in the last few years, especially 2022’s ‘Brian and Charles,’ which itself focused on a similarly unlikely hero with big aims and less success than he might hope.
Instead of a quirky inventor and his robot friend, here we have an eccentric lottery winner living on a remote island off the coast of the U.K. who has decided that what’ll make him truly happy is to reunite his favorite music duo years after the pair –– who were together in life as well as music –– have gone their separate ways.
As it turns out, while the lure of the money is enough to get them back in the same place (despite one having become a slightly pretentious solo artist on the verge of self-financing his latest album and the other having given up the musical spotlight for a quieter life in America with her husband), sparking those collaborative fires again won’t be as easy as that.
The result is an oddball comedy that has deeper emotions at its core, exploring love, loss and the place that memory has in our lives.
Script and Direction
(L to R) Co-writer/actor Tom Basden, director James Griffiths and actor Carey Mulligan on the set of ‘The Ballad of Wallis Island’, a Focus Features release. Photo credit: Alistair Heap/Focus Features. ©2025 All Rights Reserved.
Stars Tim Key and Tom Basden had a head start on the basic concept, having brought it to screens (alongside director James Griffiths) in short film ‘The One and Only Herb McGwyer Plays Wallis Island.’
Yet the movie version is far from simply an expanded take on the short, here deepening the ideas and adding characters –– the Carey Mulligan role, for example, doesn’t exist in the original. Instead, they’ve carefully crafted a story of love and loss, of searching for something that once made your life whole and ultimately realizing that sometimes it’s better to move on.
It’s also a funny film, Key in particular drawing laughs as a very British sort of eccentric. And while it’s initially troubled by the two main characters sometimes sounding like they’ve been written the same way, as the scope expands and the story evolves, that fades away and what you’re left with is a satisfying tale that doesn’t opt for easy answers or a pat finale.
Griffiths, more known for his work on the small screen on series such as ‘Episodes,’ ‘A Million Little Things’ and ‘Bad Sisters’ (though he has one other movie to his credit via 2014’s ‘Cuban Fury’), here brings a gentle touch to the film, taking full advantage of the dramatic, beautiful Welsh coastline and its unpredictable weather.
‘The Ballad of Wallis Island’ was never a movie crying out for incredibly inventive visuals, but he shoots the film in an entertaining, grounded style, focusing on the characters, but also giving them room to breathe.
Cast and Performances
(L to R) Tom Basden as Herb McGwyer, Carey Mulligan as Nell Mortimer and Tim Key as Charles in director James Griffiths’ ‘The Ballad of Wallis Island’, a Focus Features release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features. © 2025 All Rights Reserved.
Tim Key is one of our focal here, and while he’s a gracious scene partner who interacts well with everyone else (particularly Basden, though it’s not surprising given their shared history in comedy).
Charles Heath is a character who so easily could have come across as pathetic and needy, but in Key’s hands, he’s a well-rounded weirdo, a man who has largely closed himself off from the world, but hasn’t let that turn him bitter or spiteful. He’s a cheery sort, socially awkward and endlessly pushing buttons he’s not even aware he is, but never in a mean way.
His dynamic with the obviously frustrated and dissatisfied Herb McGwyer, played by Basden is a highlight of the film. While Charles is naturally thrilled to be spending quality time with one of his heroes, Basden gives Herb a slightly anxious, sometimes dismissive quality that is nevertheless nuanced beyond the portrayal of a musician who thinks he’s a true original.
And playing Nell Mortimer, the woman who was once his great love and muse, Carey Mulligan brings all her skills to bare on the role. She’ll win your heart, but also make you understand why she chose to take the path in life that she’s on. Mulligan is typically superb here.
Like the island on which it is set, this is a sparse film in terms of inhabitants, but there is excellent support from ‘Fleabag’ veteran Sian Clifford as local shop owner Amanda, who may turn to mean more to Charles than just making sure he’s supplied with tennis balls. And Akemnji Ndifornyen is great as Nell’s friendly husband Michael, who vibes instantly with Charles but also figures Herb out fairly quickly.
Final Thoughts
(L to R) Director James Griffiths, Carey Mulligan, Tim Key and Tom Basden talk ‘The Ballad of Wallis Island’.
‘The Ballad of Wallis Island’ seems likely to find more of a niche audience, but those who go along with its cheery, earnest and honest vibe will find what they’re after.
It’s wryly funny, uses slapstick comedy well strategically and boasts some superb performances.
“He’s getting the band back together.”
Eccentric lottery winner Charles lives alone on a remote island but dreams of hiring his favourite musician, Herb McGwyer, to play an exclusive, private gig. Unbeknownst… Read the Plot
What’s the story of ‘The Ballad of Wallis Island’?
Charles (Tim Key) is an eccentric lottery winner who lives alone on a remote island and dreams of getting his favorite musicians, McGwyer Mortimer (Tom Basden & Carey Mulligan) back together. His fantasy turns into reality when the bandmates and former lovers accept his invitation to play a private show at his home on Wallis Island. Old tensions resurface as Charles tries desperately to salvage his dream gig.
Who stars in ‘The Ballad of Wallis Island’?
- Tim Key as Charles
- Tom Basden as Herb McGwyer
- Sian Clifford as Amanda
- Akemnji Ndifornyen as Michael
- Carey Mulligan as Nell Mortimer
‘The Ballad of Wallis Island’, a Focus Features release opens in wide release on April 18th. Photo credit: Focus Features. ©2025 All Rights Reserved.
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