movie reviews

We’re halfway through 2025, which has been a year with an interesting film slate, even if there haven’t been a ton of must-watch movies that have come out. One underseen release that deserves more eyes on it is James Griffiths’ The Ballad of Wallis Island starring Carey Mulligan and Tom Basden as a pair of musicians and Tim Key as a superfan who has brought the duo back together for a private show. The new The Ballad of Wallis Island Blu-ray release gives viewers a proper way to enjoy it at home.

“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, Mortimer-McGwyer (Carey Mulligan and Tom Basden) back together. His fantasy quickly 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,” says the synopsis.

Both Basden and Key have long worked together, and their comedy timing really makes the film special. Key’s Charles is constantly making puns, a socially awkward yet jovial man, which is a great contrast to Basden’s Herb, who is jaded and bitter as an aging musician whose best days are behind him. While Herb hasn’t been able to move on with his life since the breakup of his folk group, his former bandmate Nell (played wonderfully by Mulligan) has, as she’s cheery and content to start the next chapter of her life with her new husband. It’s a series of comedic contrasts as old tensions and charms reemerge during what is supposed to be a lovely tribute to Charles’ deceased wife.

The film doesn’t just deliver laughs, as it winds up being a quite touching story about moving on. While the gig doesn’t go as planned, it winds up being a lovely character study. The Ballad of Wallis Island Blu-ray also looks fantastic, as it brings a sharp image of the film, which was shot in Pembrokeshire, Wales. The musical performances, albeit a relatively small part of the film’s runtime, also sound great.

Disappointingly, The Ballad of Wallis Island Blu-ray is as barebones as it gets. There are no bonus features, not even the trailer for the film is included. It’s a shame since the inclusion of Key and Basden’s original 2007 short film called The One and Only Herb McGwyer Plays Wallis Island would’ve been an incredible reason to pick up the disc.

The Ballad of Wallis Island Blu-ray Review: Final Verdict

While it’s too bad that there are no special features to further your appreciation for the film, its 100 charming minutes are more than enough for a recommendation. Filled with heart and plenty of laughs, all three stars shine in this British comedy. Luckily, the film itself is more than worth the purchase as it’s a lovely film you’ll want to watch more than once.

Disclosure: The publisher provided product for our The Ballad of Wallis Island Blu-ray review.