Some Like It Hotpoint

Brian and Charles (Jim Archer, 2022)

Based on a short film, Jim Archer's captivating adventure set in the idyllic Welsh countryside revolves around the friendship between Brian, an oddball, reclusive inventor and Brian, his robotic creation, possessed with an infantile mind and a washing machine torso, is a wholly charming affair. The beauty of Brian and Charles is its focus on a childlike innocence exhibited in both man and machine. The result is a heartwarming tale that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

Not really down with the millennial stoner type detritus that passes as "teh funny" ever since Seth Rogen became a thing, nor any of that inescapable political shite mistaken for humour  (The Mash Report), thus, it becomes salutary whenever a down to earth comedy of Brian and Charles calibre breezes along. It feels positively invigorating. Love the awkwardness of it, without it feeling forced nor contrived.

The plot has a fairly basic premise. Within the first act, it's easy to second guess how the film will unfold. Predictability isn't a negative in the film, it's a refreshing plus as it works in two distinctive ways: it allows for more time and effort invested with the bromance of Brian  (David Earl) and Charles (Chris Hayward), which is the main drive of the film; and the other is we don't have to endure the utterly played out concept of film creators thinking they're being smarter than the audience by subverting elements all while forgoing any organic progress within the film. This is an overworked trend which has become a bigger cliche in itself over recent years. Seeing both Brian and Charles develop over the course of the film is a real delight. All the eccentric humour would mean nothing if there wasn't some effective emotional bond between the two. Brian has an almost paternal love for the unwary and full of wonder, Charles. It's wonderful to see how Charles instills confindence in his introvert friend, Brian; helping him make that first step in finding love with Hazel (Louise Brealey), a fellow introvert from the local village. In the case of Charles, he grows from an inquisitive like child to a stroppy teen wanting to make a go in life away from Brian's protective umbrella. Felt so invested in the film, I wound up being genuinely enthralled by Brian and Charles standing up to the film's antagonist, Eddie the bully and his miscreant family. At one point toward the end of the film, I was hoping for Charles to go into a full robot rampage to save himself.

One very minor gripe I had with the film which could have been worked on a little better, would be the faux-documentary treatment being somewhat lost and forgotten within the film at times. Hardly a big deal, but it is noticeable.

Overall, this is a film that's a refreshing alternative to all that hackneyed, humourless, bullshit around these days. It oozes oodles of that quirky British charm, where even a jaded cynic like myself can't help being spellbound by it.

Shout out to The Martorialist for putting this on my radar.

Dada Debaser Bonus:

Glad I'm not the only one out there drawing the comparison between the striking resemblance of Charles Petrescu and Jim Broadbent. A number of other people have also mentioned it in the comments section for Kermode's video review of the film.