Saw this movie listed as one of the great "smaller" movies of 2025 and we decided to try it on a whim last night.
www.kaleidescape.com
WOW, it's absolutely fantastic!! Laugh-out-loud hysterical, beautifully filmed in a great location, a tight 100 minutes runtime, and very heartwarming with some surprising plot turns. Has that intelligent wry British comedy style, like a Stephen Merchant / Ricky Gervais comedy or maybe a Simon Pegg movie without any of the violence. Doesn't fall into the obvious storytelling traps it might have. My wife and I both loved it from the first few minutes until the credits rolled.
Carey Mulligan is great as always, but the two male leads were super impressive considering they are not only first time actors in a film, but also first-time screenplay writers. Tim Key is hysterical, as should be since he's apparently a British standup comedian and improv performer, but is impressive as an actor in his first big movie. And the other lead, Tom Basden, is not only the co-lead actor, also a first-timer, but is the co-writer, as well as the composer of all the music in the film, singing like a dozen of those songs very credibly in his role as a semi-washed-up folk-rock singer in an artistic midlife crisis.
Reasonable rental price, but at purchase price of $15, is cheap enough that it's probably worth just buying.
Eager to hear others' reviews here.
RECOMMENDATION: Don't watch the trailer for this movie... it is one of those that just gives away too much and spoils some of the funniest moments of the movie. We were very sad we knew what was going to happen in many sections because of the damn trailer.
The Ballad of Wallis Island
Eccentric lottery winner Charles reunites his favorite band for a private show, but as old tensions flare up, he must scramble to save his dream gig!. Directed by James Griffiths. Starring Tom Basden, Tim Key, Carey Mulligan, and Akemnji Ndifornyen. Purchase and download today in 4K HDR10.
www.kaleidescape.com
WOW, it's absolutely fantastic!! Laugh-out-loud hysterical, beautifully filmed in a great location, a tight 100 minutes runtime, and very heartwarming with some surprising plot turns. Has that intelligent wry British comedy style, like a Stephen Merchant / Ricky Gervais comedy or maybe a Simon Pegg movie without any of the violence. Doesn't fall into the obvious storytelling traps it might have. My wife and I both loved it from the first few minutes until the credits rolled.
The Rotten Tomatoes synopsis gives a good overview if you want to know a bit of what you're getting into, without spoiling anything:
THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND follows Charles (Tim Key), an eccentric lottery winner who lives alone on a remote island and dreams of getting his favorite musicians, McGwyer Mortimer (Tom Basden & Carey Mulligan) back together. His fantasy turns into reality when the bandmates and former lovers accept his invitation to play a private show at his home on Wallis Island. Old tensions resurface as Charles tries desperately to salvage his dream gig.
Carey Mulligan is great as always, but the two male leads were super impressive considering they are not only first time actors in a film, but also first-time screenplay writers. Tim Key is hysterical, as should be since he's apparently a British standup comedian and improv performer, but is impressive as an actor in his first big movie. And the other lead, Tom Basden, is not only the co-lead actor, also a first-timer, but is the co-writer, as well as the composer of all the music in the film, singing like a dozen of those songs very credibly in his role as a semi-washed-up folk-rock singer in an artistic midlife crisis.
Reasonable rental price, but at purchase price of $15, is cheap enough that it's probably worth just buying.
Eager to hear others' reviews here.
