Workmates
When an accident threatens to shutter the tiny, underfunded theatre they’ve built together, Lucy will do anything to save it—and keep her friend Tom close—though she’s harboring deeper feelings.
DIRECTOR
Curtis Vowell (Baby Done)
Actors
1h 42m • Rated M • Comedy, Drama • Aotearoa/NZ
Sophie Henderson • Matt Whelan • Milo Cawthrone • Chris Parker • Kura Forrester
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 chemistry with Matt Whelan’s Tom gives the film much of its emotional tension, especially as their friendship teases the possibility of more. The creative world—night after night at the theatre, the creative labour, the financial precarity—is lovingly and realistically drawn. Some reviews highlight how claustrophobic the setting can feel, sometimes limiting the characters’ scope beyond the theatre walls. Others take issue with certain plot elements (like Lucy’s semi-homelessness within the theatre) as being tonally uneven or under-explained.
Overall consensus places Workmates as a tender, authentic film about friendship, longing, and the messy work of love—and art. It isn’t flashy or grandiose, but it’s relatable, with emotional stake, humour, and a strong sense of place. For many, it’s one of 2025’s most heartfelt Kiwi rom-dramas, especially for those who care about creative communities and what it takes just to keep a theatre (or hope) alive.
CRITICS ROUNDUP
Late-blooming rom-com
Workmates is a New Zealand romantic dramedy directed by Curtis Vowell and written by Sophie Henderson. It follows Lucy, co-manager of the tiny, underfunded Crystal Ballroom theatre (modeled closely on Auckland’s Basement Theatre), and her longtime collaborator Tom. When an accident threatens to shut down their beloved theatre, and Tom starts drifting away, Lucy confronts what she’s really risking—not just the venue, but the possibility that her feelings for Tom might be more than professional.
Critics have responded with warmth. Henderson’s performance as Lucy is widely praised: she’s funny, vulnerable, messy, and deeply human. She carries the weight of the film’s quieter moments—her uncertainty, hopes, fears—and it anchors the story.