‘The Ballad of Wallis Island' is a pitch-perfect ode to the power of song

Boston Globe

03-04-2025

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Herb McGwyer is no longer the one and only musician invited to play Wallis Island. In this iteration, he's part of McGwyer Mortimer, a since-disbanded duo that featured songwriting partner and Herb's former flame, Nell Mortimer (Carey Mulligan). Details of their breakup are slowly revealed as the film progresses. However, we assume that there must be some acrimony involved since Charles purposely neglects to mention to Herb that he'll be sharing the gig with Nell.
Charles also conveniently forgets to tell either party that this concert is for an audience of one. Considering the amount of money they're getting (500,000 pounds for Herb, 300,000 pounds for Nell — all from Charles's lottery winnings), McGwyer Mortimer should play
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The venue itself is far from convenient. Located off the coast of Wales, Wallis Island is one of those places you can only get to by boat — and that boat runs whenever its captain feels like driving it. Which isn't often, of course. The island doesn't even a proper dock, as Herb discovers when he and his guitar fall overboard into the stormy seas upon arrival.
From left: Tom Basden, Carey Mulligan, and Tim Key as Charles in "The Ballad of Wallis Island."
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Wireless service is scarce, leading to some funny moments involving a cellphone outside the grocery store run by Amanda (Sian Clifford), a local who's sweet on Charles. She doesn't understand some of Herb's requests for items like peanut-butter cups, though she dutifully puts in inventory orders with the mainland when he asks.
Herb is distant and grumpy, a cynical yin to Charles's perky and optimistic yang. Charles is always smiling, trying his best to be polite and laughing at his own
social gaffes. Herb finds his quirkiness annoying and is less than pleased to discover that the 'five-star hotel' on the island is really Charles's large but humble house.
Nell is far less critical when she arrives on her boat with her husband, Michael (Akemnji Ndifornyen). She takes a shine to Charles more easily, perhaps because Michael is equally weird and goofy. Nell also knew she'd be sharing the gig, something she's willing to do despite retiring from the music business.
Once all the parties have gathered, songs are sung and old wounds are reopened. Mulligan and Basden have chemistry both as musicians and as ex-lovers, so they play the dramatic and musical scenes beautifully. The requisite misunderstanding that occurs at the end of the second act is handled in an unexpected manner by both actors, which adds to the joy of watching this film.
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So why is Charles going through all this trouble to reunite his favorite band on a nearly deserted island? The simple answer is nostalgia. Charles saw McGwyer Mortimer several times in concert, and their breakup pained him for what appears to be selfish reasons. Since he has the money, he can get one more show all to himself. The songs (written by Basden) are very good, which makes this a credible idea.
Thankfully, 'The Ballad of Wallis Island' is more complicated than we think. Through this crazy setup, Charles thinks he can recreate the feeling he once had while sharing those concerts with his now deceased wife. This bittersweet notion is something we can all relate to, especially when it comes to music. Think about the first song you associate with your significant other, and how that thought makes you light up.
Key is so good at conveying these feelings that you can forgive the movie almost anything. Just watch him at any given moment when someone is singing. There's one shot in this film where Key's face conveys so much emotional information that my eyes filled with tears. I had no idea where his memories were taking him, but I knew where mine were going.
'The Ballad of Wallis Island' is full of gentle, heart-tugging moments like that, but it's also very, very funny. The laughs come not from complicated setups but from simple human observations. These are lovely people, flaws and all, and we like them and their passions.
By the time the excellent title song plays over the end credits, we've become good friends with the denizens of Wallis Island, temporary and permanent. This is a movie about a relationship that deserves to be nurtured and cherished. The most wonderful feature of 'The Ballad of Wallis Island' is that it's not the relationship you're expecting.
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★★★½
THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND
Directed by James Griffiths. Written by Tom Basden, Tim Key. Starring Tom Basden, Tim Key, Carey Mulligan, Sian Clifford, Akemnji Ndifornyen. At AMC Boston Common, Landmark Kendall Square, Coolidge Corner, suburbs. 100 minutes. PG-13 (profanity)
Odie Henderson is the Boston Globe's film critic.