If French farceur Francis Veber did a movie for George Harrison’s ’80s indie film company HandMade Films back in the day, chances are it would look a lot like The Ballad of Wallis Island. This British comedy from Steve Coogan’s Baby Cow Productions has veteran TV director James Griffiths (Black-ish, A Million Little Things) and stars/writers Tom Basden and Tim Key expanding on their 2007 short “The One and Only Herb McGwyer Plays Wallis Island,” where Key’s dimwitted but sweet lottery winner hires Basden’s embittered, titular folk singer to perform for him at the remote island he calls home. This time around they’ve added Carey Mulligan, who brings some unresolved issues as McGwyer’s former partner in music and love, whom the lottery winner has invited for a reunion. This quaint, quirky breath of fresh air took me back to the days when folksy, lighthearted comedies like Local Hero and Waking Ned Devine would come from the U.K. and win over American audiences. Here’s hoping that will happen again with this picture. Visit belcourt.org for showtimes. CRAIG D. LINDSEY