It’s hard to imagine an easier or wackier selling point for a film than Olivia Colman playing a lonely, repressed fisherwoman who commissions a local weaver, played by Peter Dinklage, to craft her a husband. Lo and behold, he does just that, creating a husband played by Alexander Skarsgård. The two immediately marry and embark on a passionate, steamy romance that sparks outrage and controversy throughout the town.
Within these confines, you might expect Wicker to be a very different film than it actually is. The first half largely delivers on the premise you’d expect, getting straight to the point. When the Fisherwoman and Wicker Husband (yes, those are their actual names in the film) first meet, the film hilariously embraces the absurdity of its premise, complete with some ridiculous sex scenes. You get what you pay for!
However, the film wisely understands that it needs a few more tricks up its sleeve to sustain an entire runtime. With that in mind, Wicker does a nice job of balancing its absurd, cartoonish sensibilities with a genuinely sincere story at its center. While the comedy and emotional beats don’t always blend seamlessly, Olivia Colman and Alexander Skarsgård deliver lovely performances, and their chemistry goes a long way toward making this an endearing watch.
On a technical level, the film is incredibly well-rendered. The production design is immaculate, with a town that feels lived-in and full of distinctive flourishes and thoughtful details. The same can be said of the costume design and the film’s overall aesthetic, particularly in how it brings the Wicker Husband to life. The visual execution is remarkably seamless.
The film also has a strong sense of humor, which is probably a necessity given the sheer absurdity of its premise. For the most part, it balances its comedic and sincere elements nicely, although there are moments when the former threatens to overwhelm the latter. As the film approaches its conclusion, it struggles to stick the landing, particularly after spending its first half bringing all these disparate elements together so effortlessly.
All in all, Wicker is an inventive film anchored by standout performances from Alexander Skarsgård and Olivia Colman. While it’s far from one of the year’s best, it remains consistently endearing and amusing, offering an original vision that’s difficult not to appreciate.
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