Olivia Colman’s wild new comedy is becoming a major word-of-mouth hit

With a 94% Rotten Tomatoes score, the comedy is generating lots of discussion.

For the fisherwoman, he creates the perfect husband (Alexander Skarsgård), someone hardworking and strong but also sensitive to her needs. The only catch: her new romantic partner is made out of wood, which raises eyebrows amongst their local community.

Wicker is getting audiences talking, which is no doubt helping at the box office, where it's already earned twice what it cost to make.

Much of this discussion is about its steamier scenes, depicting Colman’s fisherwoman and her wooden husband in the throes of passion. Also, having a character personify the perfect romantic partner will always have viewers comparing them to their own romantic partners in real life.

JOE's review of Wicker

On top of all this, though, Wicker is an oddly emotionally affecting fable about human nature. It shows how social hierarchies and their rigid norms are forged and how a community can lash out when people challenge them.

This is evident in how a popular figure in the village (played by an excellent Elizabeth Debicki) turns the locals against Colman and Skarsgård’s new couple, despite them doing nothing but existing and being happy.

Watch the trailer for Wicker right here:

The movie adds a few too many obstacles to the protagonists' love affair, ones which detract slightly from the above allegory. In particular, there's a moment where Colman's fisherwoman turns severely against her wooden partner that feels out of character.

That said, Wicker always remains fun and frothy, thanks to Colman’s typically charming lead turn, the script’s earthy humour, and some genuinely impressive special effects to create the Wicker man.

Wicker is in cinemas now.