Wicker weaves fun tale

With one of those perfectly synchronized dances between a mismatched couple, Wicker might qualify as a rom-com, except for one thing. A basket maker created the dancing man, who goes by the name Wicker. Plus, Wicker and his lady get along right away; after all, she paid the community’s basket maker to create a husband, more as a joke than for any goals of love. Early titles credit author Ursula Wills-James for inspiration of a fable rather than rom-com. Adapting with Eleanor Wilson, director Alex Huston Fischer maintains the folk-tale attitude in an unnamed medieval village who residents fish and farm, going by the names of their professions and following a rigid set of rules about marriage and procreation. As Fisherwoman, Olivia Coleman never fit in with Wicker’s local residents, so her inadvertent landing into a happy, fulfilling marriage turns the community on edge. This leads to a story with an allegorical message, along with some insight and fun. Much of that fun comes from a superb cast, with Coleman’s magnetic smile suiting the central role’s need in a character to root for, even if she smells like fish and would keep an Extreme Makeover team busy for weeks. None of this bothers a man made from basket materials in in outstanding job of make-up and costume design. The basket costume covers the features of Alexander Skarsgård, whose eyes, voice, and movement skillfully display Wicker’s gentle, caring qualities. Along with make-up, production design and costumes look atmospherically appropriate, adding to Wicker’s overall sense of strange but appealing richness.