At first glance, James Griffiths’s The Ballad of Wallis Island may look like just another overly precious, insufferably twee indie dramedy. Surely, its initial setup isn’t especially promising: A two-time lottery-winning millionaire, Charles (Tim Key), hires both musicians from his favorite, long-defunct folk duo, McGwyer Mortimer, to perform a private show for him on the remote Welsh island on which he lives. That the two crooners, Herb (Tom Basden) and Nell (Carey Mulligan), are former lovers who haven’t spoken for nearly a decade only adds to the potential for egregious heart-tugging and nostalgic reminiscences.
And yet, The Ballad of Wallis Island plays both its drama and comedy in decidedly minor keys, straining neither for grand emotional revelations nor big laughs. The film instead heavily relies on the delightfully idiosyncratic central performance by Tim Key—who co-wrote the film with co-star Tom Basden—to retain a carefully calibrated...
And yet, The Ballad of Wallis Island plays both its drama and comedy in decidedly minor keys, straining neither for grand emotional revelations nor big laughs. The film instead heavily relies on the delightfully idiosyncratic central performance by Tim Key—who co-wrote the film with co-star Tom Basden—to retain a carefully calibrated...
- 3/7/2025
- by Derek Smith
- Slant Magazine
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.