The Ballad of Wallis Island Blu Ray Review (Universal)

The Ballad of Wallis Island is a 2025 comedy produced and directed by James Griffiths (The One and Only Herb McGwyer Plays Wallis Island, Cuban Fury, Free Agents, Black-ish, The Mayor, A Million Little Things, and Up All Night). It was written/produced by lead actors Tom Basden (Here We Go, Gap Year, Cowards, Fresh Meat, and Plebs) and Tim Key (Cowards, Screenwipe, and We Need Answers). It’s based on the original short The One and Only Herb McGwyer Plays Wallis Island. It was produced by Rupert Majendie (Pls Like, The Witchfinder, Changing Ends, This Time with Alan Partridge, and Chivalry). It only took 18 days to shoot. It grossed $2,863,467 worldwide at the box office. Charles (played by: Tim Key from Mickey 17, Brassic, Greed, Alan Partridge, Together, and Badjelly), an eccentric lottery winner that lives alone on a remote island. He has a crazy dream to reunite his favorite musicians Mortimer-McGwyer for one last performance. Nell Mortimer (played by: Carey Mulligan from Promising Young Woman, Drive, Public Enemies, Brothers, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, The Great Gatsby, Inside Llewyn Davis, and Shame) and Herb McGwyer (played by: Tom Basden from After Life, Quacks, Star Stories, The Wrong Mans, and Dodo) both receive generous offers for this odd request. His fantasy quickly turns into reality when both bandmates and former lovers accept his invitation to play a private show at his home on Wallis Island. Herb McGwyer originally thinks it’s a solo show until someone from his past arrives. Old tensions and feelings start to resurface as Charles tries desperately to salvage his dream gig coming true at any cost!!!! The Ballad of Wallis Island is the biggest surprise of 2025. I thought it was just going to be solid or average but it ended up blowing me away. It’s one of the best films and my personal favorites of the year so far. They took the original short concept and they turned it into something really special. The script takes it’s sweet time with it’s development so it’s a little slower at first but all of that just makes everything so much stronger. Tim Key as Charles takes a character that could come off as kinda creepy and somewhat pathetic if someone else took the role but he manages to make Charles a very likeable person with his excellent performance. Now, that’s talent because it could have a completely different direction. There’s a real mystery and curiosity where it comes to the former lottery winner that is almost always alone these days. Tom Basden is great as the washed up Herb McGwyer. He comes to the island as a someone else when he originally arrives. He only cares about the money and he’s rude towards his host. He has sold out at this point and he will do whatever music that pays the bills. He is expecting to do a solo gig until he gets a real big surprise. He quickly changes after he experiences his old life and material with his former partner. Charles even starts to grow on him and he sees him for his true self after everything settles in. I was very impressed with his natural musical talent during their rehearsals and performances. The beautiful and talented Carey Mulligan shines as Nell Mortimer. She’s struggling for money so that’s why she decides to do this reunion. She stopped doing music after Mortimer-McGwyer split up. She has no problems going back to her roots and their chemistry is just perfect when they are together. It’s so organic and it feels right when you witness their collaboration after all these years. She’s done roles with music before so she kills right away. She’s married now so this makes their situation very complicated between the former lovers. The rest of the supporting cast includes Sian Clifford (Fleabag) and Akemnji Ndifornyen (Doctors). The Ballad of Wallis Island is basically a three person feature for the most part but the other two roles are very important to some of the subplots in this. I wasn’t a big fan of folk music in my earlier days but I love it now so I thought the soundtrack and score were amazing here. Everything felt like it really meant something to each of them. It was always personal and it felt that way as it was displayed on screen. It’s a truly unique thing when it comes to comedy. Usually when an old couple is in the same place, it feels forced or it honestly just tries way too hard. The Ballad of Wallis Island shows a completely different side of that type of relationship. It gives you some redemption and closure at the same time. It’s a comedy but I would definitely consider it more of a dramedy because there’s a good amount of drama and scenarios that bring up feelings from forever ago mixed with all the laughs. The Ballad of Wallis can easily give you the feels, you end up so invested into these leads. It has some interesting twists and stuff throw in to add to it all. It keeps your attention with it’s high quality writing, tunes, and acting. It’s something that you don’t want to end when it’s done. I think this one will still be in my top 4 of 2025 before it’s all over and there’s still plenty of time left in the year. It’s just that good and pure, I already want to revisit it soon. Do yourself a favor and give it a shot on Peacock where it’s currently streaming. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!! Let’s discuss this high definition presentation from Focus Focus Features and Universal Pictures! This 1080p (2.39:1) transfer is one of the most beautiful looking blu ray releases of the year so far. It has stylish cinematography and all of the colorful locations shine here for the visuals. It has English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track on the disc. The audio is top notch for this dramedy. It’s about music so that really stands out when it comes to this department. All of dialogue is crystal clear, the collaborations are elevated, and the music has an amazing boost to it. It has English SDH subtitles. There’s no extras or digital code included with this home video release. It’s available everywhere right now including MovieZyng.com, CHECK IT OUT!!!!