The Ballad of Wallis Island

Directed by James Griffiths
Starring: Tom Basden, Tim Key, Carey Mulligan
Released 30 May
8/10

Over the past couple of decades Tim Key has shyly risen to the position of comedy national treasure without ever quite claiming the spotlight. Though he’s stolen scenes in Peep Show and Detectorists, he’s still best known as Sidekick Simon Denton, the dim foil who accompanied Alan Partridge from Mid Morning Matters to This Time. There’s an awkward, bumbling modesty to the character that feels out of time, a gentle throwback to the 1970s, such that you could imagine him in wellies and knitted tank top, joining Richard Briers at the allotment or sharing cucumber sandwiches at the Vicarage with Derek Nimmo.

So it’s a surprise to find him starring, alongside longtime collaborator Tom Basden, opposite Hollywood A Lister Carey Mulligan, and not only holding his own, but shining in what might be the most satisfyingly bittersweet British comedy drama since Paddington 2.

The Ballad of Wallis Island is an adaptation and elaboration of The One and Only Herb McGwyer…, a winsome 20 minute short that Key and Basden made with director James Griffiths in 2007. It told the story of a sullen indie-folk singer lured to a remote British island on the promise of half a million quid for a private gig. 

The film was an unexpectedly touching improvisation on loneliness, fandom and the real value of music, but over the past couple of decades the story has matured into a richer, stranger story full of midlife complications and regrets. In this new take, Key is still the eccentric recluse, lording it sadly around a ramshackle island mansion, and Basden is still Herb, now an embittered middle aged sell-out, struggling to get his solo career back on track, years after the break-up of his musical and romantic partnership.

What’s new is Carey Mulligan as Nell Mortimer, the other half of that duo who has, unbeknownst to Herb, also been invited to play on the island (naturally for a slightly lower fee). Her arrival stirs up old songs, buried feelings and - she’s brought along her new husband for the ride - new tensions. 

Mulligan reprises something of her longsuffering Jean from Inside Llewyn Davis as Nell, and Basden is terrific as the twitchy, tetchy Herb. As they pick out the unfamiliar chords of their hits and ease their way back into those old harmonies, they’re richly believable as some Laura Marling/Marcus Mumford folk duo destined to never properly disentwine. Key meanwhile brings  pitch perfect melancholy to Charles, who might have easily been a Colin Hunt-style novelty tie merchant. Together they create a film that, like the best ballads, keeps you guessing on how it’s going to resolve up to the very last verse.