Dir: James Griffiths. UK. 2025. 100 minutes.
Eccentric British humour and pathos raise their voices in mild concord in James Griffiths’ heartwarming comedian crowd-pleaser that signifies no man is an island – even when he lives on one. He and writers/co-stars Tom Basden and Tim Key discover the candy spot between silliness and sentimentality whereas including a splash of John Carney-style musical wistfulness to their story of connection and transferring on.
Audiences will count on to giggle, however could also be shocked to search out themselves shedding a tear or two as properly
After premiering at Sundance, Focus Options will launch the Child Cow-produced movie within the US on March 28, with a UK launch from Common to comply with, though a date has not but been set. Good phrase of mouth and the presence of Carey Mulligan in a supporting position ought to assist it to draw consideration.
The fictional setting beforehand appeared within the director and writers’ 2007 BAFTA-nominated quick The One and Solely Herb McGwyer Performs Wallis Island, which they use as a leaping off level for his or her characteristic. It lies someplace off the UK, although by no means geographically specified, and it’s the place folks musician Herb McGwyer (Basden), is heading by rowing boat to play a gig.
On arrival, issues should not as he expects. Moderately than pulling right into a dock, he’s greeted by Charles (Key), an overexcited middle-aged man clutching a small whiteboard declaring, “Welcome, Herb!!”, who tells him that he’ll need to wade to the seashore.
Charles has an affable British awkwardness that shows itself by way of nervous chatter. When Herb inevitably falls within the sea, for instance, Charles declares: “You’re Dame Judi Drenched!” If that pun doesn’t make you giggle, you gained’t want to attend too lengthy for the following one. Charles has a gradual stream coming and rapidly establishes himself as a part of a wonderful lineage of eccentric character creations that features the likes of Alan Partridge, David Brent and oddball inventor Brian from 2022 Sundance alumni Brian And Charles. Followers of Partridge might also recognise Key from his flip as Sidekick Simon alongside Steve Coogan in TV’s Mid Morning Issues. (Coogan heads Child Cow, which produced this.)
As soon as on dry land, Charles takes Herb to his home excessive above the seashore, the place he lives alone. It seems that he’s the musician’s primary fan and, due to a windfall, has employed him to play a private gig. The one snag for Herb is that Charles has additionally employed his former singing companion – and ex-lover – Nell Mortimer (Mulligan) to play too. When she arrives along with her husband Michael (Akemnji Ndifornyen), the musical magic continues to be there however previous points additionally bubble up. All of the whereas, Key lets an air of quiet desperation construct round his character, so we are able to see how something which may cease the gig happening can be devastating to him.
Whereas the script is uniformly robust, a liberty or two is taken with the plot, not least the best way that Michael is conveniently faraway from the equation at an early stage. The native shopkeeper Amanda (Sian Clifford) can be underwritten in comparison with everybody else, though she does get a share of fine one-liners.
The humour is unabashedly British – from Charles giving Herb a bag of pickled onion flavour Monster Munch as a rider, to his pronunciation of a ploughman’s lunch as “a pluffmans”. Past the dialogue, the songs sung by the duo – written by Basden – are charmingly folksy if not particularly memorable though it’s actually the lyrics that rely. There are additionally loads of sight gags. There’s a operating joke a couple of operating faucet, for instance, and it’s testimony to Griffiths capability to visually shift the temper that even it takes on a poignant air at one level. G Magni Agustsson’s camerawork brings a honeyed glow to night-time scenes involving music, which acts as a pleasant counterpoint to using pure daylight when dialogue is emphasised.
Refined shifts are evident proper via Wallis Island, as comedy stops sentiment in its tracks, nevertheless it additionally makes the moments of pathos stand out in aid. Whereas audiences will in all probability count on to giggle, they could be shocked to search out themselves shedding a tear or two as properly.
Manufacturing firms: Child Cow
World distribution: Common
Producers: Ruper Majendie
Screenplay: Tom Basden, Tim Key
Cinematography: G Magni Agustsson
Manufacturing design: Alexandra Toomey
Enhancing: Quin Williams
Music: Adem Ilhan, with songs by Tom Basden
Fundamental solid: Tim Key, Tom Basden, Carey Mulligan, Sian Clifford, Akemnji Ndifornyen