Brian and Charles

Now showing on Sky Cinema and available on a range of streaming services.

Jim Archer directs as David Earl and Chris Hayward bring their comic creations to a feature length film. Brian (Earl) is a quiet and isolated man living in a farmhouse in the Welsh hills. He’s alone and while having a happy outward appearance, he’s clearly lonely and does not easily get close to people. He fills his day inventing, quirky and relatively useless things from random pieces of scrap. Until he builds himself a robot, Charles (Hayward). Charles opens up a new world of friendships and relationships especially with village local Hazel (Louise Brealey) , but it also catches the eye of less pleasant members of the community, namely Eddie (Jamie Michie) and his less than friendly family. Can Brian keep Charles safe and allow them both to flourish into a new world.

If you looked up the definition of quirky comedy, I’d be pretty sure you’d find a picture of Brian and Charles. This is quirky,l in the best if ways. It is also funny throughout and importantly touching and good hearted.

It is a lovely study of loneliness, and about making friends when it’s hard to do and taking yourself out of your comfort zone for those you care for.

Performances are strong with Earl portraying the loner who finds life difficult, but never strays into the pathetic. He is always someone you feel for not feel sorry for. His relationships with Louise Brealey’s Hazel, always feels believable and while sweet, never overly so.

Hayward’s large lumebring robot is at the centre of the comedy. Especially as we see him develop into “sulky” teenager with his “unfair” life and how he hates everyone. We’ve all been that character! But seeing it portrayed by a talking walking washing machine is an extra treat.

Brian and Charles is the definition of quirky. But it’s a quirkiness that works. It’s sweet, tender and kind hearted, but most importantly it’s funny. You’ve never realised how much you’ve wanted a 7ft talking washing machine until now. We could all use some Charles Petrescu in our lives.