There’s this new film called The Ballad of Wallis Island, and I honestly didn’t expect it to hit me the way it did. It’s funny, yes — but also really quiet and thoughtful in places. Tim Key plays this awkward but sweet guy named Charles, and he kind of steals the whole show.
The movie's basically about a fan bringing his favorite folk band back together for a private concert. But it’s not just jokes or some big reunion drama. It feels small and personal, in a good way.
Tim Key's Performance Feels So Real and Familiar
The heart of the film is definitely Charles, played by Tim Key. He’s this rich, lonely guy who won the lottery and now lives alone on an island. He’s obsessed — in a sweet, harmless way — with this old folk duo that faded away years ago. So he decides to use his money to fly them in and ask them to perform just for him. One gig, just for him, on his island.
What makes Charles so interesting is how much he talks. Like, nonstop. He says the weirdest stuff — not in a creepy way, more like he’s scared of silence. You can tell he’s a little socially off, but not in a mean way. He’s trying so hard to make people feel welcome, and at the same time you get the sense he’s also very alone. Tim Key plays it in a way that feels funny but also kind of sad — and really human.
The Folk Duo Comes With Baggage, and That’s Where the Drama Kicks In
So the band — they’re called McGwyer Mortimer in the movie — isn’t exactly on good terms when they show up. Tom Basden plays the grumpy half of the duo, and Carey Mulligan plays the other. She’s moved on, living a calm life with her husband making jam in Portland, while Basden’s character is clearly still a bit stuck in the past.
The tension between them isn’t loud — no screaming matches or dramatic speeches — but you feel it in the way they talk (or don’t talk). Basden especially is great at letting his body language say everything. He walks around like someone carrying old regrets, while Mulligan’s character just wants to move on quietly.
What’s cool is that the songs they play in the film are original, written by Basden himself, and they’re actually really beautiful. They don’t feel like parody songs. They feel real, like something you might hear on a rainy day and suddenly get all emotional.
It’s Not the Kind of Comedy You Might Expect — And That’s a Good Thing
Look, if you hear that Tim Key and Tom Basden are doing a film about a folk band reunion, you might assume it’s going to be super sketchy or over-the-top. But it’s not that at all. This film is slow, kind of gentle, and really leans into awkwardness and quiet moments. It doesn’t try too hard to be clever. It just lets the story breathe.
There are definitely funny lines — mostly from Key — but the film isn’t afraid to sit in silence or show characters who don’t have all the answers. That’s actually what makes it stand out. It’s about people growing older, wondering what they’ve done with their lives, and trying to reconnect with something — or someone — that meant something to them a long time ago.
Final Thoughts
The Ballad of Wallis Island might not be for everyone. It’s not fast-paced or flashy. But if you’ve ever loved a band no one else remembers, or looked back at your past wondering what might’ve happened if things had gone differently, this film will probably hit you somewhere deep.
It’s one of those quiet stories that sticks with you, not because of some big twist, but because it feels honest. Tim Key is fantastic in it — funny, yes, but also really tender. And the music? Surprisingly good.
It’s worth a watch if you’re in the mood for something small, weird, and kind of beautiful.
