Brian & Charles Review: A Charming, Funny & Heartfelt Comedy About Friendship

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If one were to describe Brian and Charles, charming and heartfelt will quickly come to mind. The film — directed by Jim Archer from a screenplay by David Earl and Chris Hayward, who also star — meanders a bit and isn’t particularly nuanced, but that isn’t a big problem for what it aims to be, which is a crowd-pleasing, delightful film. Brian and Charles is a soothing, lighthearted, and warm story about friendship and connection that is strengthened by its titular characters.

Brian (Earl) is a loner who spends his days creating anything and everything, usually from the scraps he finds. His home and workshop are filled with what others might call junk, but they are things he sees great value in for his next creation. When rummaging through the bins one day, Brian finds a mannequin and decides to create a sentient robot he names Charles (voiced by Hayward). Brian is overjoyed that he has someone to share his life with day in and day out, and the start of his friendship with Charles is delightful. However, as Charles develops his own wants and needs outside of his relationship with Brian, things get a bit complicated. They’re made even worse with the involvement of the small town’s bully, Eddie (Jamie Michie).

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Brian and Charles successfully delves into the need for human connection while maintaining the film’s sense of cheer. Not only is it about the importance of friendship, but it engages with themes of letting go, attachment, and the idea that one can grow if they have something to fight for and someone to love — be it a significant other, a family member, or a robot like Charles. The story never grows too dark or becomes disheartening