Movie Review: ‘Ballad of Wallis Island’ is perfect indie laugh-out-loud comedy

In an era where it’s hard to find successful, laugh-out-loud comedies in theaters, the best bet you’ll have to come across one is in the indie, small-budget realm. This month, that comedy is James Griffiths’ The Ballad of Wallis Island.

Based on the well-received short film The One and Only Herb McGwyer Plays Wallis Island (2007), the expanded picture brings back the short’s leads, Tim Key and Tom Basden, who also co-wrote the scripts of both movies. Like a lot of major releases, there’s at least one star to sell the effort and here it’s female lead Carey Mulligan. For those who enjoyed Mulligan’s other music themed feature, Joel and Ethan Coen’s Inside Llewyn Davis (2013), The Ballad of Wallis Island is a nice companion piece, and much less depressing.

In modern day England, veteran folk artist Herb McGwyer (Basden) agrees to play a local, small gig in the remote Wallis Island after superfan Charles (Key) offers him $500,000 and a room at his hotel. But the moment he arrives to meet Charles, Herb realizes the outdoor “concert” is actually a private performance for Charles, and the “hotel” is just the older fan’s spacious, two-story home.

Needing the money to finance his next album because of his decrease in popularity in the past decade, Herb agrees to stay and play. But things take an even bigger turn when ex-wife and former musical partner, Nell Mortimer (Mulligan) also shows up with her current husband, Michael (Akemnji Ndifornyen). It turns out that Charles’ secret plan was to attempt to get the former couple to reunite for one night.

The fictional “Wallis Island” is actually shot on location in Wales. Adem Ilhen composed the score, and Basden penned the McGwyer/Mortimer songs. Like others have noted, sometimes you just want to watch a feel-good movie that’s not complicated, and for the most part, The Ballad of Wallis Island provides that. It’s lighthearted, funny and well executed without trying to be anything more.

While the first half gives the impression the relationship between Herb and Charles will evoke Rob Reiner’s Misery (1990) or Martin Scorsese’s The King of Comedy (1983), their awkward, cringe chemistry is surprisingly put on the backburner for most of the second act to focus on Herb and Nell’s history. It’s a history that will make avid music fans think of music duos like Ian and Sylvia, Richard and Linda Thompson, or Jack and Meg White.

I think the most surprising part of Wallis Island is learning that Basden isn’t a professional singer-songwriter and primarily a comedian and actor instead. He completely nails the moody, tortured music artist vibe on screen. Mulligan, who is married to Mumford & Sons frontman Marcus Mumford in real life, is naturally well cast as Nell.

Though I didn’t find a subplot involving Charles and a local shopgirl played by Sian Clifford too interesting, and wish we could have heard more of the original songs before the third act, The Ballad of Wallis Island is a solid comfort to watch for film fans.