Review: Brian And Charles

Some things you hear about and are immediately drawn to, and this drama/comedy about a reclusive inventor who creates a robot was certainly one of them. Blessed with one of those trailers that made you want to see it, director Jim Archer’s Brian and Charles is actually based on his own 2017 short film, that tackled the same subject matter, with the same lead cast.

Needless to say Archer, alongside screenwriters/stars David Earl (Derek, After Life) and Chris Hayward (writer on TVs Trollied) have successfully brought this concept to the big screen, in one of the year’s greatest feature film delights.

Shot in documentary style, the film follows the creative and a little eccentric loner Brian (Earl) in rural Wales, as he routinely roots around to find bits and pieces that he can use to create some offbeat inventions with. Some work, many don’t, but he is always trying, and one day has the brilliant idea to build a robot. Why not? This time though, his creation works far better than he ever dreamed, becoming more than an invention, Charles Petrescu (Hayward) might be the friend Brian has always wanted and needed.

Brian and Charles is not as good as I thought it would be…it is even better! A British dramedy mockumentary spin on Shelley’s Frankenstein, and a warm story of man meets (well, builds) robot. It is a tender and genuine film that has one hell of a quirky concept to entice you but through it, tackles important issues of loneliness, companionship, human growth, and the importance of standing up to the many who bully their way through life.

Across the picturesque yet quite stranding landscape (brilliantly captured by cinematographer Murren Tullett), this story blossoms, becoming a cross between a man and machine brotherhood or even a kind of parenthood tale. The script deftly balances heart with laughter, and dark human drama with joyful hope, as the plot opens up into greater directions than just one very good idea, eventually coming to have very real high stakes to its later thrills and turmoils.

As well as being one of year’s funniest pictures, it is among the most moving and indeed most unusual films currently on release. Undoubtedly Brian and Charles is a future cult classic that many will take great pride in discovering for years to come. A lovely film about resilience and triumph, that comes with one of the most gratifying third acts in quite some time. All with a score by Daniel Pemberton, that once again shows his composing versatility…and on that note, so to speak, do stay seated for a post credits musical treat.

This is a film with such vibrant and cheerful character, and to that point, the characters themselves are filled with depth and structure, with some supporting faces (Sherlock’s Louise Brealey and a truly monstrous Jamie Michie especially) having strong parts to also work with.

However it is the core duo that you will obviously be most comfortable in the company of, with Earl being excellent as the driven, longing and ever optimistic Brian, and Hayward stealing the show as the assertive, direct and fabulous Charles. A cabbage-eating robot with a washing machine tummy, and you’ll love every fake hair on his plastic bonce!

Brian and Charles is a true original and a film that I instantly fell in love with, and I think many more will too, as it shows us all something which we can all learn from about humanity, empathy and compassion. As well as tickling us with the sight of a robot in Hawaiian hula skirt who is adamant about going to Honolulu.