‘Ballad of Wallis Island’ will be one of the year’s most heart-warming movies

nypost.com:

Running time: 100 minutes. Not yet rated. In theaters March 28.At first glance, the plot of “The Ballad of Wallis Island,” one of the most joyous surprises at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, looks like that of a sub-standard rom-com.A former folk rock duo, who were also a romantic couple until the group dramatically split up, are separately invited to put on a reunion concert on a remote British island for an audience of just one big spender.That premise could be a recipe for ridiculousness.

The stuff of Adam Sandler in a Hawaiian shirt or Jennifer Aniston hiding from a man behind a tree. But this sublime and human comedy, starring Carey Mulligan, Tom Basden and the wonderful Tim Key, is anything but kooky or overblown.

I adored every second of it.Directed by James Griffiths, this is the sort of hilarious heart-warmer that only comes around once or twice a year to offer a blessed break from darkness, snobbery and streaming schlock.

It’s so easy to love, even if love doesn’t come easy for its characters. The prickly band is McGwyer Mortimer, and the first member to arrive by motorboat is cranky Herb McGwyer (Basden).