We're never not in the mood for an uplifting comedy, and this, I think, qualifies. It was released this year (as you can see) but it's based on this, which was a short film starring the two male leads, released in around 2007. A cursory glance shows that that short is literally just those two, whereas the film has added two fairly major female roles, and one extra man (along with bit parts that I'm not sure got any lines). But the songs in the original short are there in the film we watched, which is perfect, because in the full-length films, they're the old songs of his youth that's he's tried to put behind him.
Anyway, the film begins with a man being ferried over to an island off the coast of Wales (the island that you see in the opening shot
is in fact Ramsey Island, an RSPB nature reserve (like at Arne), and the locations that the actors actually act in were on the Welsh mainland) and the boat is met by an awkward, effusive bearded man (who seems a bit older than the passenger he's meeting). There is no dock, and no sharp drop off, so you have to get out in knee-deep water and wade, which immediately puts the boat passenger, a slightly-past-his-prime ex-hottest British Folk Act of 2014, Herb McGwyer (although his real name is Chris Pinnock (or something like that)). It emerges that beardy (whose name is Charles) is a huge fan of McGwyer Mortimer, which was the folk duo that had all the success before Herb broke it up by going off and doing a solo album. His albums since then have declined in sales, in part because he's tried to reinvent himself as a pop act, and it's all a bit cringe, and now he needs a cash infusion just to finish his most recent album "Feat". This is why he's agreed to come to Wallis Island to play a gig, with the promise (negotiated by his agent) of half a million quid. As they're trudging up the lane from the beach, Herb discovers that there's no hotel, as he thought, and that he will be a guest in Charles's house (which is very nice, although the tap in the sink in Herb's room can't be turned off). He also very slowly pieces it together that the gig will be for an audience of one (he initially asks how many people are expected, and when Charles says "fewer than 100," assumes that means 100, until realization dawns. How did Charles get the money to afford this? Well, as the revelation contains a very good joke, I won't tell you, although the same joke is in the short film, slightly altered, because in the long film Charles was married. In fact, it was his wife who was the bigger McGwyer Mortimer fan, and the concert is because it's five years since she died. (Yes, teetering on the maudlin, and if this film had been written by Richard Curtis, it would have fallen headlong, but this film manages to maintain its footing, and that's in great part due to Tim Key, who plays Charles.
It's a beautiful performance, because Charles is essentially very annoying: he's an inveterate witterer, who reminded me wincingly of a rather tragic figure from my friend circle at college, but who reveals a wounded soul in small glimpses.) And, of course, Herb also works out that Charles has invited the other half of McGwyer Mortimer, Nell, over whom he is not. However, to his shock, she (Carey Mulligan) shows up with husband in tow - an American, no less - and she lives in Portland selling Pickles (sounds like a nursery rhyme) but is also a bit short of cash, so showed up for the gig anyway. (Her husband, who is annoying in a different way, but a lot sharper than he initially appears, winkles it out of Charles that Herb is being paid $500K while Nell is only being paid $300K. Conveniently the husband is a birder and vanishes for an unrealistically long time (given the tiny size of the island) in search of puffins, giving time for the three main characters to hang out and for Herb to realize how deep his feelings for Nell still are. However, things don't go perhaps as you might imagine, thankfully, although it is plenty heart-tugging. Throw in Sian "the sister from Fleabag" Clifford as the woman who minds the shop
as a potential love interest for Charles (although she appears slightly simple - probably just badly written - which might be just as well if she's to take Charles's wittering).
Most of the film is hanging out in nice scenery,
playing plausible folk songs, setting off paper candle-driven balloons
and the like. Basically it's a Local Hero for the '20s, albeit in Wales, and without the rabbit killing. But there are enough very solid jokes, and Charles and Herb/Chris have a good enough comedic chemistry (and Herb and Nell a convincing enough romantic one)
that it's a very enjoyable time. Recommended. (Although be warned: you may end up coveting Charles's house.)
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