Review: 'Brian and Charles' is a charmingly deadpan comedy about a lonely man and his robot
Like the robot who is one-half of the titular duo, “Brian and Charles” is a whimsical and winning blend of a lot of spare parts — including the low-key charm of the Ealing Studios comedies, the absurdist wit of Monty Python, the deadpan timing of “The Office,” and the stout heart of “The Wizard of Oz’s” Tin Woodsman.
Brian (played by David Earl) lives a lonely existence near a small Welsh village, where he’s left alone through a gloomy winter with his mind, which is always coming up with odd inventions. He goes into the village, where he runs into the painfully shy Hazel (Louise Brealey, known to Americans as coroner Molly Hooper on “Sherlock”), on whom he’s rather sweet.
One day, Brian comes up with an invention that he’s sure will cure his loneliness: A robot companion. With a washing machine for a body, a mannequin’s head, and a spare pair of legs, Brian builds his robot — and is rather surprised, after a few false starts, to see it’s actually functioning. Brian tries a few names for his new robot, and the one to which he responds most positively is Charles.
Charles is played by Chris Hayward, and Earl and Hayward are the film’s screenwriters — though it’s apparent that a fair chunk of that writing is happening in front of the camera, as the two performers throw off seemingly ad-libbed lines at each other.
There is a progression in Brian and Charles’ relationship, as Charles goes from childlike wonder at everything in Brian’s world to teenage rebellion when he realizes there’s more outside the gate — namely, an exotic paradise he sees on TV, called Honolulu. But what’s outside the gate is also dangerous, particularly Brian’s neighbors, town bully Eddie (Jamie Michie), his hard-ass wife Pam (Nina Sosanya), and their bratty teen twins (Lowri and Mari Izzard).
Jim Archer, a TV guy making his feature directing debut, and the movie’s writer/performers begin with a mock-documentary format, the jokes gently muted by the deadpan delivery but still hilarious. There’s also a strong emotional current, as Brian feels both parental and fraternal bonds with Charles — as the robot also inspires Brian to stand up to Eddie and show his feelings for Hazel. “Brian and Charles” is that rare comedy that carries the spark of something wonderful.
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‘Brian and Charles’
★★★1/2
Opens Friday, June 17, in theaters. Rated PG for language, mild violence and smoking. Running time: 91 minutes.