Kangaroo
After a car crash in the Outback, a disgraced TV presenter is stranded in a remote town and forms an unlikely friendship with a 12-year-old Indigenous girl; together they rescue orphaned joeys and rebuild trust amid the wild.
DIRECTOR
Kate Woods (Looking for Alibrandi)
Actors
1h 47m • Rated PG • Family, Adventure • Australia
Ryan Corr • Lily Whiteley • Deborah Mailman • Rachel House • Brooke Satchwell
The island setting, the modest production, and the humor that often arises from character rather than contrivance work together to keep the film from ever feeling flat. On the flip side, a few feel the pacing is uneven, or that the secondary characters don’t always land. Still, even these criticisms tend to be soft and in the service of a film that is more heartwarming than perfect.
Overall, the consensus sees The Ballad of Wallis Island as a warm, wistful, and soul-soothing film—modest in scope but rich in feeling. It’s not trying to dazzle, but it digs in where it matters: loss, memory, music, human connection. For many, it’s one of the more emotionally satisfying films of 2025.
The Ballad of Wallis Island is a quietly charming British comedy-drama directed by James Griffiths, written by and starring Tom Basden and Tim Key, alongside Carey Mulligan. The story centers on Charles, a lonely lottery winner living on a remote Welsh island, who invites his favorite folk duo—Herb McGwyer and Nell Mortimer—to reunite for a private performance. His motive isn’t just fandom; there are unresolved heartbreaks, nostalgia, and grief behind his idealistic gesture.
Critics are largely enamored with the film’s balance of humor and melancholy. Tim Key’s performance as Charles is praised for being endearingly awkward, verbose, and heart-on-sleeve, often using verbal wit to stave off silence. Basden as Herb, and Mulligan as Nell, deliver subtle, emotionally resonant performances, especially when the old romantic and artistic tensions surface—and you begin to feel what’s been lost, as well as what hope might remain. The original music is another highlight; the songs feel lived in, and the film uses them not as spectacle, but as emotional anchors.
Some reviewers point out that the premise is familiar—a fan’s devotee, reunited artists, romantic regrets—but argue that the execution elevates it.
CRITICS ROUNDUP
The cinematography and use of landscape have been singled out as particularly effective. The Australian Outback is more than a backdrop; it becomes a quiet character, enhancing the intimacy of the story. Scenes with the joey are praised for balancing cuteness with emotional weight, never reducing the animal to a mere plot device. The pacing is generally gentle and deliberate, allowing the story to breathe, though some feel the second act meanders at times.
While critics are broadly positive, the film is not without its predictable elements. The narrative arcs — Chris’s fall and redemption, Charlie’s emotional journey, the tension over the joey — follow familiar beats. Some reviewers note that the film avoids deeper moral ambiguity, favoring a safe and tidy resolution. A few narrative turns are seen as contrived, yet they do not significantly undermine the overall impact.
Ultimately, Kangaroo is praised for achieving what it sets out to do: deliver a heartening, hopeful story about connection, compassion, and personal growth. It may not break new ground, but its sincerity, strong performances, and visual grace make it a pleasing, emotionally resonant experience for families and audiences seeking a gentle cinematic journey.
CRITICS ROUNDUP
A heartfelt Outback tale of redemption, connection, and quiet charm.
Kangaroo has been widely received as a warm, family-friendly dramedy whose charms outweigh its faults. Critics generally praise its sincerity, the natural beauty of the Australian landscape, and the delightful animal moments, even as they note that the story occasionally treads familiar ground.
The film follows Chris, a fallen media personality who, after a public misstep and the loss of his TV job, finds himself stranded in the Outback. There he meets Charlie, an Indigenous girl coping with her own losses, and together they rescue an orphaned joey. This act becomes both a literal and symbolic path to redemption for Chris, while offering Charlie a chance to heal.
Performances are a strong point across reviews. Ryan Corr is seen as affable and engaging, though it is Lily Whiteley who frequently stands out for her vulnerability, emotional depth, and the strength she brings to her character. The supporting cast provides dependable and grounded performances, giving the film a stable emotional core.