Film Review: THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND (2025): James Griffiths’ Ambitious Comedy is a Low-Key Character Study with Heart
The Ballad of Wallis Island Review
The Ballad of Wallis Island (2025) Film Review, a movie directed by James Griffiths, written by Tom Basden and Tim Key and starring Tom Basden, Tim Key, Carey Mulligan, Sian Clifford, Akemnji Ndifornyen and Arron Long.
Filmmaker James Griffiths’ new heartwarming comic drama, The Ballad of Wallis Island, is chock full of lessons about love, life and hope and its three central middle-aged characters are sharply written with key attention to the little details that make these individuals special and worth spending time with. Taking place exclusively on a virtually isolated island, the movie is at its best when it centers on the film’s musician character, Herb McGwyer (Tom Basden). Herb has seen better days and has come to perform for “less than 100” people in order to collect a large cash fee from the man in charge of his alleged audience, Charles Heath (Tim Key). Griffiths keeps the movie rolling along with unpredictability and, despite some slow moving scenes, the picture is emotional and satisfying in almost every way.
This film doesn’t skimp out on humorous scenarios with the witty two-time lottery winner, Charles, at the center of them. When Herb needs to use a pay phone on the island, he only has a bill worth $50. When he sends Charles to get change for him, Charles comes back with the whole $50 in coins. Quite amusing, indeed. Charles turns out to be quite a character and his on-screen presence really drives the plot of the picture forward.
Another scenario has Herb trying to buy Reese’s peanut butter cups from a local shop headed up by Amanda (Sian Clifford) who just happens to seem close enough to the lonely Charles’s age to suggest the pair may have a chance of getting together. When Amanda tries to put peanut butter in a mug (I.e. a cup), laughs arise that are both pleasant and intelligently written.
Herb is half of an old pair of famous singers– the other is a really complex woman. Herb carries a torch for an old flame, Nell Mortimer (Carey Mulligan), who comes to the island as well to perform for those “less than 100 people” Charles initially talks about. The Ballad of Wallis Island would like to sometimes pretend it’s a love story between Nell and Herb who have been separated for some time. Mulligan’s performance could make the viewer think that there is potential to rekindle that love affair that Nell once shared with Herb. Mulligan is a fine actress who gets a fair amount of screen time to establish her character and develop her emotionally as well.
Unfortunately for Herb, there is a new man in Nell’s life (Akemnji Ndifornyen) which makes Herb realize that winning back Nell’s love may not be as easy as he thought it could be. Herb has all the right things to say to Nell, but there’s also that pesky matter of their checkered past which threatens to hold them back from becoming lovers again, for many various reasons. There are several scenes between Herb and Nell that play like a well-oiled machine but this isn’t their story contrary to what the viewer may expect.
This movie truly belongs to Basden and Key despite Mulligan’s formidable on-screen presence. Basden and Key’s characters make the film detail-oriented as the picture emphasizes the bond between Herb and Charles and the connection between Herb and Nell. Charles is presented as a lovable goofball who just seemed to get really lucky by winning the lotto twice. He wants to spend his money on Herb and Nell even if it means there may actually be no other audience for the former couple reuniting as musical artists than Charles, himself.
Charles’ affections for Nell and Herb’s work are genuine. Key develops his character so superbly as he constantly dishes out funny one-liners and witty remarks throughout. Basden, in the less showy role, is at a breaking point that culminates in a scene where Herb walks deep into the water as Charles seems to suspect that he may be trying to commit suicide. What follows are some very thought-provoking and emotional scenes that will hit the viewer hard as these sequences shed light on Charles’ lonely existence and what Herb can do to improve it for him. After all, Charles’ money will significantly improve Herb’s life if he actually accepts it.
The Ballad of Wallis Island is smart, funny and moving. Its low-key humor is subtle at times but the film ultimately could sneak up on you if one can get past some slow-moving early stretches in the picture as the plot is being developed. Sian Clifford offers terrific support as her character becomes a last-minute love interest for Charles who has lost love before even though he has a significantly nice financial situation which allows him to explore opportunities to have Herb perform on the island for (way) “less than 100 people.”
I liked The Ballad of Wallis Island a lot. It’s sweet and surprising as we watch the film’s middle-aged characters try to determine how they’ll spend the rest of their lives. This is a winning film with some good music that drives the plot along at a slow, but steady, pace. It’s a gem.
Rating: 8/10
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