--- title: "The Ballad of Wallis Island: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-ballad-of-wallis-island/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-ballad-of-wallis-island" critics_score: 77 critics_reviews: 14 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # The Ballad of Wallis Island (2025): what the critics said Critics' score 77 from 14 reviews: 12 positive, 1 mixed, 1 negative. The reviews for The Ballad of Wallis Island are warm and closely grouped. Most critics call it a small, bittersweet British comedy that starts as an odd-couple farce and deepens into something about grief and letting go. The praise clusters on three things: the chemistry between Tom Basden and Tim Key, Carey Mulligan’s performance as Nell, and the original folk songs, which several reviews say carry the film’s emotional weight rather than decorating it. Reservations are mild and repeated: the humour is uneven, the sentiment sometimes tips into the saccharine, and the story follows a familiar shape. Radio Times notes that how funny it plays depends on the viewer’s tolerance for Key’s comic style. Two critics dissent outright. The New York Times finds it damp and depressing, with only Mulligan to recommend it, and The Wrap calls it mawkish and contrived, with repetitive jokes and a tiresome central character. Otherwise the spread is narrow. ## Empire — Ian Freer Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 23 May 2025. The film is a warm, perceptive and quietly life-affirming small-scale treat that finds a sweet spot between heart and humour while sensitively exploring love, loss and reconciling with the past. The critic singles out the compassionate writing and performances by Basden and Key, along with the moving musical reunions and character growth. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/the-ballad-of-wallis-island/) ## The Observer — Wendy Ide Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 30 May 2025. This sharply observed British comedy about grief and loneliness delivers plenty of laughs while playing in a mournful minor key. It is praised as a bittersweet small treasure with standout performances from the leads. [Read the review](https://observer.co.uk/culture/film/article/film-of-the-week-a-balm-for-battered-souls) ## Little White Lies — Katherine McLaughlin Rating 4/4/3. 28 May 2025. The film relishes in daft physical comedy and the absurdity of the situation while elevating gentle bromance with banging folk tunes. It is a sweet but uneven story of men in crisis and the interconnectedness of humans. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/the-ballad-of-wallis-island) ## The Guardian — Catherine Bray Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 28 May 2025. The film is a funny yet melancholy story of a folk duo reunited for a private gig by an eccentric lottery winner superfan. It stands out for its sincere emotional core and the beautiful straight performances of the songs. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/may/28/the-ballad-of-wallis-island-review-lottery-folk-tim-key-carey-mulligan) ## Time Out — Phil de Semlyen Rating 4/5. 12 May 2025. This charming anti-romcom is a folking delight and a beautifully observed charmer about loving and letting go. It delivers a rare blend of unkempt charm, emotional precision and soulful folk music in a rare comedy about heartbreak. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-ballad-of-wallis-island-review-2025) ## The AV Club — Jacob Oller Rating B-. 25 March 2025. The critic notes that the premise of an eccentric superfan reuniting his favorite folk band yields charming, quaint results thanks to the leads' long-honed chemistry and the music's ability to build pathos, but the central duo overshadows other characters and the film leans into familiar sentimental territory. The script's maturity in handling past relationships and its refusal to fully surrender to feel-good clichés keep it spry. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/the-ballad-of-wallis-island-review) ## Radio Times — Sean McGeady Rating 3/5. This twee odd-couple comedy deepens into an affecting story of pain and acceptance. Its slow-burning warmth pays off in a lovely, bittersweet resolution, though how funny it lands depends on tolerance for the central comic style. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-0l3ns8/the-ballad-of-wallis-island/) ## Financial Times — Danny Leigh Rating ★★★★☆. 29 May 2025. The low-budget British comedy proves a delight with its whimsy and poignant moments, thanks to Tim Key and Carey Mulligan. It is singled out for its surprising emotional depth and wordplay beyond the expected zany elements. [Read the review](https://www.ft.com/content/6253f742-6ed8-4f65-8fa9-346050e0073d) ## Los Angeles Times — Amy Nicholson 27 March 2025. The critic praises the film as a sentimental and crowd-pleasing acoustic charmer expanded from a short. It highlights the quirky folk-music comedy and strong performances on a remote Welsh island setting. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2025-03-27/ballad-of-wallis-island-review-carey-mulligan-tim-key-tom-basdan-james-griffiths) ## Screen Daily 26 January 2025. Festival review. Eccentric British humour and pathos lift their voices in gentle harmony in this heartwarming comic crowd-pleaser that finds the sweet spot between silliness and sentimentality. It adds a dash of musical wistfulness to its tale of connection and moving on. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/the-ballad-of-wallis-island-sundance-review/5201133.article) ## Sight and Sound 29 May 2025. The critic notes inconsistent humour but praises the real chemistry between Tom Basden and Carey Mulligan as former lovers and bandmates. It is an affecting comedy that contemplates the pains and pleasures of a musical career in freefall, steering clear of mawkishness through human connection. [Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/ballad-wallis-island-folk-duo-reunited-obsessive-fan-this-bittersweet-british-comedy) ## The Hollywood Reporter — David Rooney 1 February 2025. Festival review. The critic finds the comedy-drama a tender, funny, and disarming charmer with heart and generosity of spirit that sneaks up on cynicism, though it risks sliding into saccharine sentimentality. The lived-in performances, especially the chemistry between Basden and Key, and the pleasing folk songs provide emotional substance. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/the-ballad-of-wallis-island-carey-mulligan-tom-basden-tim-key-1236124724/) ## The New York Times — Jeannette Catsoulis 27 March 2025. The critic finds the film a damp and depressing comedy that strains to fill its runtime with unmemorable elements. Carey Mulligan's warm performance as Nell provides the main highlight amid the downbeat story. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/27/movies/the-ballad-of-wallis-island-review.html) ## Variety — Tomris Laffly Rating Critic's Pick. 27 January 2025. Festival review. The critic calls it a soulful and winsome crowd-pleaser with a delightful trio of leads in a quirky music-filled comedy. It singles out the eccentric story and picturesque Welsh shores for praise. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2025/film/reviews/the-ballad-of-wallis-island-review-1236286816/) ## Digital Spy — Ian Sandwell Rating 5/5. 30 May 2025. This is a funny, tender dramedy about grief and lost opportunities as a pun-loving lottery winner reunites a former folk duo on his island, with unexpected results. The critic highlights the terrific believable music, winning performances (especially Tim Key's endearing oddball), consistent humor, and emotional impact that makes it the best British film of the year so far. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a64902883/ballad-of-wallis-island-review/) ## Collider — Anna Miller Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 6 February 2025. Festival review. The critic calls the film a delightful dramedy that starts as light comedy with folk music but becomes a heartfelt tearjerker touching on grief, lost love, and forgiveness. They single out the strong performances, especially Tim Key as the eccentric Charles, and the original music as highlights in this optimistic British fable. [Read the review](https://collider.com/the-ballad-of-wallis-island-review/) ## The Playlist — Marshall Shaffer Rating B+. 2 February 2025. Festival review. The critic calls it a humorous, heartfelt tale about the redemptive power of music, commending the eccentric yet endearing characters, original songs, and overall charming disposition despite familiar elements. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/the-ballad-of-wallis-island-review-a-folksy-british-comedy-that-croons-charms-sundance-20250202/) ## Eye for Film — Andrew Robertson Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 8 March 2025. Festival review. The critic finds the film a bittersweet, laugh-out-loud comedy with charm, noting its appeal to fans of British radio and folk sensibilities while praising the cast's chemistry and original music. [Read the review](https://eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/the-ballad-of-wallis-island-2025-film-review-by-andrew-robertson) ## The Skinny — Stefania Sarrubba Rating ★★★★. 26 May 2025. The film expands the 2007 short into a bittersweet story of a lottery winner inviting his favorite folk duo to perform privately on a remote Welsh island. The critic praises the unaltered humor, strong performances (especially Carey Mulligan), excellent songs, and emotional maturity in exploring nostalgia, art, and fleeting connections. [Read the review](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/new-releases/the-ballad-of-wallis-island-review) ## Deadline — Damon Wise Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 26 January 2025. Festival review. The review finds the film a charming if predictable musical rom-com buoyed by strong performances, especially from Carey Mulligan. It singles out the alt-folk numbers and Mulligan's wattage for praise while noting the humor may feel dated outside a festival setting. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2025/01/the-ballad-of-wallis-island-review-carey-mulligan-tim-key-tom-basden-musical-romcom-1236268442/) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 26 January 2025. Festival review. The critic pans the film as mawkish and contrived, criticizing the repetitive jokes, audience manipulation, and underutilization of Carey Mulligan. They single out the tiresome central character and lack of depth for complaint. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/the-ballad-of-wallis-island-review/) ## Film Stories — James Harvey 28 May 2025. The critic praises this sweet, occasionally awkward British comedy as a charming return to form for the genre, highlighting the realistic optimism in its storytelling and the standout performances and folk music. [Read the review](https://filmstories.co.uk/reviews/the-ballad-of-wallis-island-review-acoustic-comedy-with-charm-to-spare/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/the-ballad-of-wallis-island.md