A sweet little film about an inventor who creates a robot in a small town in Wales, Brian and Charles is a bit uneven, but very heartwarming.
I don’t always jive with British humor. It can be really hit or miss for me. There are movies that I love like About A Boy and Kinky Boots, but I could never get into Wallace and Gromit or Monty Python (much to the dismay of my husband and children). I can accept that this is a flaw in me, so I do keep trying to find the films that hit.
Brian and Charles is about a lonely man in a small town in Wales who spends most of his time inventing things. (i.e. toilet brushes that spin, attaching pinecones to a bag and calling it a pinecone bag) One day, after searching through trash and finding a mannequin head, he creates an AI robot that is ultimately named Charles. With a very small life and no desire to go anywhere else, Brian is not quite prepared for the curious mind that he has created.
Brian and Charles is shot like a mockumentary, although they never talk about it. It is clear that there is a camera crew following Brian, and Charles even talks to them at one point, but they are not part of the story. They just exist.
Brian is an awkward and semi-charming Welsh guy with all of the stuttering and self-deprecation to match. There is a girl in town that he fancies and a family that intimidates him, so even though everyone knows everyone, he just keeps to his little life.
Charles, who was just born and is learning about his world, is on a never-ending quest to experience everything. You’d think that growing up might be different for an AI robot, but it isn’t. His terrible twos and teenage years will make any parent smile because if you know, you know.
The film itself is kind of uneven. The first half lacks story and although it’s entertaining to see the creation of Charles and get to know Brian, it never goes anywhere. The second half picks up, though, and it is by far the strongest as far as narrative. That said, there are some cute and funny quirky moments throughout the entire film that you’ll appreciate.
Overall, Brian and Charles is a story that will work for the whole family, as nothing exceptionally scary happens (although there are a few tense moments in the second half, but not any more than your typical Disney movie) and the end will make you smile. Perfect for movie and pizza night.
Runtime: 91 minutes
Motion Picture Rating: PG
Languages Spoken In The Film: English
Should You Watch It? Yes
Did I Cry? Nope
My Rating: 3/5 Stars
Available: Free on Peacock, to rent on Prime Video, or may be available for free on other streaming platforms
I don’t always jive with British humor. It can be really hit or miss for me. There are movies that I love like About A Boy and Kinky Boots, but I could never get into Wallace and Gromit or Monty Python (much to the dismay of my husband and children). I can accept that this is a flaw in me, so I do keep trying to find the films that hit.
