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Brian and Charles

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Brian and Charles

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Summary

Outcast Brian lives in a decrepit cottage in the Welsh countryside. He transforms odds and ends into outlandish homemade gadgets and appliances, including a 7ft tall robot companion called Charles. When Brian pursues romance with neighbour Hazel, the emotional tug of war between Hazel and Charles for the inventor's attention creates problems. Comedy, written by and starring David Earl and Chris Hayward, with Louise Brealey, Jamie Michie and Nina Sosanya

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Review

A star rating of 2 out of 5.

James Mottram

Stand-up comedian David Earl will be familiar to fans of Ricky Gervais's TV outings After Life and Derek, and he takes centre stage in this comic tale of loneliness and friendship. Earl plays Brian, an inventor of outlandish ideas who one day creates a robot named Charles. With a washing machine for a body and a dummy's head, Charles (Chris Hayward) is hardly a slick AI creation, but he craves knowledge and experience. Directed by Jim Archer, the film is as delicate as a teacup, not least in the tentative romance between Brian and a local lass (Sherlock's Louise Brealey). There are a few laughs, and some mild drama as Brian must stand up to a village bully, while Hayward (who co-wrote the script with Earl, adapting their 2017 short) imbues his robotic character with humanity. However, the film is weighed down by an excess of quirkiness, and the charm and eccentricity it strives for feels utterly forced.

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6.7/10

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Credits

Cast

rolenameBrianDavid EarlCharlesChris HaywardHazelLouise BrealeyEddieJamie MichiePamNina Sosanya

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Crew

rolenameDirectorJim Archer

Details

Theatrical distributor

Universal

Released on

2022-07-08

Languages

English

Guidance

Some swearing

Available on

DVD

Formats

Colour

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