If Once (2006) and Waking Ned Devine (1998) had a cinematic love child, it may look something like The Ballad of Wallis Island, a bittersweet British dramedy about an eccentric lottery winner who dreams of reuniting his favorite folk duo for a private concert at his isolated island home along the coast of Wales.
Charles (Tim Key) is the eccentric millionaire, and McGwyer-Mortimer is the estranged duo that he lures to Wallis Island with the promise of a big payday for an intimate seaside gig. But as any good episode of “Behind the Music” will tell you, reuniting doesn’t always feel so good. Singer-songwriters Herb McGwyer (Tom Basden) and Nell Mortimer (Carey Mulligan) haven’t seen each other in nearly a decade, and their musical and romantic split wasn’t exactly amicable. Herb went on to become a pop-rock star known for his “collabs” with other artists; Nell left the industry behind, got married, and makes chutney for a living. Can they recapture the old harmony and give Charles his money’s worth?
The film is based on a 2007 short called The One and Only Herb McGwyer Plays Wallis Island. The expanded adaptation keeps the main focus on Herb and his personal journey of rediscovery, while Charles brings an abundance of quirk and charm as a truly devoted super-fan. With its deadpan comedy, heartfelt emotion, and unconventional turns, The Ballad of Wallis Island is a small breath of fresh air in turbulent times. The music’s good too.
The film runs 100 minutes. It opens in limited release (NY/LA) on March 28, in Washington DC on April 4, and expands nationwide on April 11.