There have been quite a few feature films based on shorts, Whiplash, Napoleon Dynamite, and District 9, just to name a few. This one is based on a BAFTA-nominated short film, The One and Only Herb McGwyer Plays Wallis Island, written by its stars Tom Basden and Tim Key, and directed by James Griffiths. Basden and Key reprise their roles as musician Herb McGwyer and the eccentric lottery winner Charles Heath. The feature film gets a jolt of star power in the form of Carey Mulligan (who also serves as the film’s producer) as Herb’s former bandmate Nell Mortimer.

Heath is a massive fan of McGwyer (I kept wanting to type MacGyver, one of my fave 80s TV shows), so he paid half a million pounds for him to visit and perform on his private island. The Ballad of Wallis Island is immediately hilarious as we watch Herb arriving on a small boat to the remote island, expecting a grand welcome or at least a couple of people to help him with his luggage. Nope, all he gets is an enthusiastic welcome from Charles, who meets him on the boat before it even reaches shore. He falls into the water along with his luggage, and still has to get to Charles’s large but rather unkempt mansion on foot.

Needless to say, they don’t get off on the right foot, and slowly, Herb realizes that everything he expects to happen does not materialize. The ‘mini concert’ of less than a hundred people, he thought he’d be doing turns out to be an audience of one. To add insult to injury, Charles had invited Nell to the island with her new American husband in tow.

McGwyer Mortimer was at one point an incredibly popular music duo. Herb and Nell were lovers as well as bandmates, that is, until Herb decided to embark on a solo career. Clearly, there’s still a bit of tension between them, which really shows when Charles pushes them to reunite musically. It’s not shocking that Herb still has feelings for Nell, but as they say, that ship has sailed since she’s busy starting a family with her husband, Michael (Akemnji Ndifornyen).

I love UK music-themed movies, and this one is akin to John Carney movies like Once, Begin Again, Sing Street, etc., which also deal with heartbreak and past regrets. The script balances quirky humor and emotionally-charged drama, especially the dynamic between Herb and Nell. I’m a huge fan of Mulligan, and she’s always wonderful even in a supporting role. I’ve never seen either Basden or Key before, but they really won me over with their performances. Basden has a likable presence even though Herb is a bit of a curmudgeon, even prima-donna-ish, given his past fame. The contrast between Herb’s low spirits and Charles’ extremely cheerful and happy-go-lucky attitude is what fuels the humor in the first act. The two actors have played these roles before in the short, so they have a great rapport. Key is such a hoot as Charles, who turns out to be a multi-layered fellow who hides his painful loss under that effervescent persona.

Wallis Island (a made-up place near Wales) is hidden from the rest of the world, which means it’s without wifi, tech, and modern life. There’s a hilarious moment when Herb frantically attempts to reach his manager and fix his iPhone with rice. There’s that cliche that the location is like a character in the movie, but that’s certainly the case here. The island and its residents have their charm, in particular, there’s Amanda (Sian Clifford) who owns a small shop (seems to be the only store on the island?). Herb clearly has a crush on her, but does his best to mask it. There’s something so amusing and cute about how things finally unfold between them.

Of course, given the music theme, the songwriting and score by Adem Ilhan are lovely. I know Mulligan has a beautiful voice from Far from the Madding Crowd and her collaboration with her husband Marcus from Mumford & Sons. She showcases her vocal chops here again, and her duet with Basden is one of the film’s highlights.

This is truly one of the best indie cinemas, and it’s why I love British comedies! The characters are quirky, but they’re fully fleshed out and portrayed wonderfully by the talented cast. The lottery win bit might be a bit far-fetched, but still within the realm of possibility. Griffiths directs with a great pace, skillfully blending humor with deeper emotional moments. By the end, we understand why Charles opts to live on the island, and the movie finishes on a positive note, showcasing an unforeseen healing journey for Herb and Charles.

Have you seen The Ballad of Wallis Island? What did you think?