What if you could get your old favorite band back together, only to realize they are no longer compatible? They are no longer compatible, not just as musicians but also as people who can’t stand near each other without eventually self-destructing. The nostalgic dangers of wanting to revive the heydays, if only for a short while, are at the core of The Ballad of Wallis Island, an effortlessly charming British comedy that is based on the BAFTA-nominated 2007 short film The One and Only Herb McGwyer Plays Wallis Island.
Director James Griffiths, best known for his work on television with shows like A Million Little Things and Black-ish under his belt, and writer-stars Tom Basden and Tim Key, who make up half of the beloved Cowards British comedy sketch group, reunite to adapt their original short into a feature film. While the premise essentially stays the same, this feature-length adaptation adds Oscar-nominated actress Carey Mulligan (Promising Young Woman, 2013’s The Great Gatsby) as Nell Mortimer, the other half of the long-retired folk-rock group at the center of the story. The addition of Nell further builds upon the narrative’s themes of clinging too tight to nostalgia, providing a different perspective to balance the hilarious back-and-forth between Basden and Key.
When international music superstar Herb McGwyer (Basden) is contacted to play a private gig for an eccentric millionaire on a remote island, he’s shocked to find almost no one upon arrival, let alone a pier for him to safely get off a small fishing boat. He’s greeted by Charles (Key), a loving goofball armed with an endless artillery of awkward puns and one-liners. With nothing but a few buildings, fishermen, and a single payphone on Wallis Island, it doesn’t take long for Herb to realize that he’s been contracted to perform for an audience of one. However, he’s not playing for just anyone, as Charles quickly reveals himself to be a diehard fan.
Courtesy of Focus Features
Charles has used his incredible luck from winning the lottery not once but twice to fund a private collection of Herb McGwyer music memorabilia in his large, Tudor-style mansion. Disgruntled, Herb decides to stay as Charles is offering him $300,000 for this single performance, which would be enough to fund his next “commercialized” solo record. But there’s another catch that Charles didn’t mention. Herb’s former music partner, who he hasn’t spoken to in 9 years, Nell (Mulligan), is also coming to Wallis Island for what actually turns out to be a secretly orchestrated yet long-overdue reunion for their famous indie folk-rock duo act “McGwyer Mortimer.” Oh, and she’s brought her new husband, Michael (Akemnji Ndifornyen), along for the ride, too.
Charles is paying a hefty fee and expects to hear Herb and Nell play all of their classic hits once more together as McGwyer Mortimer, but not for reasons that are immediately obvious. Yes, he’s a mega, if not a bit overwhelming, fan with a private collection of Herb’s vintage guitars and maybe even a supposed lock of Nell’s hair bought on eBay to back it up. However, against everyone’s better judgment, his heart is in the right place. Charles isn’t crazy, he just genuinely wants to see these songs performed live one last time to take him back to better years in his life.
For Herb and Nell, though, singing these precious songs together again reopens old wounds, recontextualizing whether they called it quits back in the day because of their failed romance or because he chose to pursue a solo career and go commercial with pop-rock music behind her back. It’s in the movie’s main trio that the various effects of nostalgia are explored with nuance, with much of this credit going to Tom Basden and Tim Key’s endearing script. Key is the glue that holds the trio together with almost non-stop hilarity, not because he’s constantly spewing out jokes but because he’s just so awkwardly wholesome. When paired with Basden’s dry wit, The Ballad of Wallis Island is at its best.
Even though Carey Mulligan gets the short end of the stick from the small cast in terms of screen time, her added role, as previously mentioned, gives The Ballad of Wallis Island a more compelling reason to be adapted from a short movie to a feature. Mining nostalgia can both heal and inadvertently damage the soul, depending on how much one relies on it. While a concept like “getting the band back together” or embarking on a greatest hits tour, like McGwyer Mortimer briefly contemplate in the film, may seem fun and exciting, some things are admittedly better left in the past.
Courtesy of Focus Features
Returning to relying on nostalgia for self-gratification or inflating the ego, almost like an addiction, as seen with Herb’s character arc, is often the easier option than simply letting go. Tom Basden and Carey Mulligan translate this theme graciously; the duo radiates a warm chemistry that makes their dynamic as ex-lovers all the more believable. That genuineness is then taken to the next level with the musical element of the film. Tom Basden wrote a slew of new original folk-rock songs to be performed by McGwyer Mortimer. He and Mulligan sing these soft tunes live together in a few intimate scenes, further adding to not only the authenticity of The Ballad of Wallis Island but also its endless charm.
The Ballad of Wallis Island is a sweet and tender film about the painful act of letting go. Director James Griffiths frames the beautiful Welsh coastline with an emphasis on isolation, making the movie’s quirky antics feel like a type of comedic rehab for its characters. Laughter always proves to be the best medicine, and there should always be space for uplifting studio comedies like The Ballad of Wallis Island in the theatrical landscape, especially when they are as funny as this. The pleasant folk tunes elegantly brought to life by Tom Basden and Carey Mulligan are just the juicy cherry on top.
The Ballad of Wallis Island premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival and will be released in theaters on March 28!
Release Date: March 28, 2025.
Directed by James Griffiths.
Screenplay by Tom Basden & Tim Key.
Based on The One and Only Herb McGwyer Plays Wallis Island by Tom Basden & Tim Key.
Produced by Rupert Majendie.
Executive Producers: Tom Basden, Tim Key, Carey Mulligan, James Griffiths, Sarah Monteith, Laurence Brown, Stephen Kelliher, & Yana Georgieva.
Main Cast: Tom Basden, Tim Key, Carey Mulligan, Akemnji Ndifornyen, & Sian Clifford,
Cinematographer: G. Magni Ágústsson.
Composer: Adem Ilhan.
Production Company: Baby Cow Productions.
Distributor: Focus Features.
Runtime: 99 minutes.
