Brian and Charles (2022)

Brian and Charles is the kind of small, handmade gem that sneaks up on you—part deadpan British mockumentary, part tender buddy story, and quietly one of the sweetest sci-fi comedies in recent years. Set in a misty Welsh valley where inventions are built from hope and spare parts, it finds real magic in watching a lonely tinkerer and his gloriously odd robot companion stumble into friendship, confidence, and a wider world. David Earl and Chris Hayward make the central relationship feel both hilarious and disarmingly sincere, with whimsy that never turns cynical even when the outside world gets a bit rough. If you need slick spectacle or big laughs every minute, it may feel too gentle, but if you’re in the mood for something charming, heartfelt, and genuinely human, it’s a lovely surprise.

Brian and Charles is aiming for a sweet, low-stakes odd-couple story with a DIY sci‑fi twist, leaning hard into British whimsy and mockumentary-style charm. When it works, David Earl and the wonderfully oddball robot performance give it a gentle warmth and a few genuinely funny, tender moments. But the film is pretty slight: the pacing can feel leisurely to the point of drag, and the “quirky” tone is so constant that if you don’t buy in early, it may start to feel like it’s trying too hard to be endearing. If you want tight plotting or sharper comedy, this may test your patience; if you’re happy to spend time in a cozy, peculiar little world, it’s an easygoing watch.