Directed by
Jim Archer
Quirky little comedies like Brian and Charles are what independent film is all about and why it is important to still provide opportunities for films like this to be released in theaters.
From the moment Brian and Charles starts, it screams Sundance film. Based on a short from 2017, screenwriters and stars David Earl and Chris Heyward expanded their short into a full length feature directed by Jim Archer, making his feature film debut. The premise I felt was very similar to another indie hit from 15 years ago, Lars and the Real Girl. David Earl plays Brian, a lonely inventor living in a secluded cottage outside a small town in Britain. His inventions are horrible, either because of their impracticality, their ineffectiveness, or a combination of the two. A perfect example of this was his attempt to fly a bicycle over town with a grandfather clock strapped to the back so all in town could just look up to find the time. When Brian finds a mannequin head in a trash pile, he decides to try his hand at building a robot. By some miracle, the robot works. Embodied by fellow screenwriter Chris Heyward, the robot names himself Charles and bears a striking resemblance to Jim Broadbent (if Jim Broadbent were 7 feet tall, had the torso of a washing machine, and spoke with a 90's computer voice). In Charles, Brian has finally found a companion, and with the confidence he gains from this relationship, he is able to strike up more friendships in town, especially with an equally unique girl Hazel, played by Louise Brealey. Eventually, Charles develops an adventurous curiosity that wants to travel the world. This rebellion, along with the town bully getting curious as to what Brian is up to, leads to their new partnership being threatened.
Brian and Charles falls into a problem many films of this nature face. The first 15-20 minutes of this movie are brilliant and creative as you see Brian walk you through his life in a style reminiscent to The Office. This start, which no doubt was the basis for the original short, is outstanding. However, once the film starts to transition to the second act, you start to wonder how they are going to pull an entire 90 minute movie out of this concept. Although the film remains engaging and entertaining for the most part, it meanders its way through the middle third as it works to set up a very predictable conclusion. In no way is it a polished product, but it also is not intending to be one.
What makes this film worth it is the wonderful characters created and the film's giant heart. You can't help but fall in love with the bumbling Brian as he wanders his way through life as only he can. Then there's Charles. The absurdity of the situation forces you to instantly connect with him. The bond he and Brian develop is odd yet special. Not everything works as he matures and rebels, but enough works to allow you to follow it. The more I think about it, it feels very similar to The Office. Brian, much like Michael Scott, doesn't know how to be anything but genuine and authentic. Think Michael Scott builds a robot. That's not too far from the vibe of this movie.
I am pleasantly shocked that a film like this is able to get a semi-wide theatrical release in a time like this. It is films like Brian and Charles that are getting squeezed out of theaters by blockbuster after blockbuster. However, nothing beats finding a tiny little gem of a film in the theaters on a random night in June. Go find this film! It's movies like this we need to support all we can so they continue to have a chance in the movie theaters.
Rating: 3 stars
Watch the trailer here:
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