Brian and Charles
A lonely Welsh inventor builds an unconventional robot companion, discovering friendship, identity, and courage amid gentle absurdity.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- whimsical
- tender
- lazy sunday
- family movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film an unusually endearing and wholesome blend of mockumentary comedy, science fiction whimsy, and heartfelt friendship.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The story presents Brian's inventions and relationship with Charles through an observational mockumentary style.
Brian converts an old washing machine into Charles, turning loneliness into an unexpected friendship.
Brian lives alone in a rural Welsh cottage where he invents objects and builds Charles in a cowshed.
Brian's daft inventions, Charles's curiosity, and their awkward bond generate humor while foregrounding shared loneliness.
Films like Brian and Charles, and why
The Iron Giant
shared whimsical science fiction premise, eccentric inventor protagonist, rural setting, and warm human-machine friendship
The Personal History of David Copperfield
shared gentle British humor, outsider protagonists, emotional loneliness, and eccentric everyday invention
What We Do in the Shadows
shared mockumentary sensibility, awkward social comedy, affectionate eccentricity, and understated warmth
Paddington
shared feel-good tone, unconventional friendship, bullying themes, and comic outsider perspective
Movie Details
- Director
- Jim Archer
- Release Date
- 2022-06-17
- Runtime
- 91 min
- Rating
- 6.3 / 10 (193)
Cast
- David Earl
- Chris Hayward
- Louise Brealey
- Jamie Michie
- Nina Sosanya
- Lynn Hunter
- Lowri Izzard
- Mari Izzard
- Cara Chase
- Sunil Patel
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Brian and Charles about?
- A lonely Welsh inventor builds an unconventional robot companion, discovering friendship, identity, and courage amid gentle absurdity.
- What is Brian and Charles like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Brian and Charles as measured, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Brian and Charles violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Brian and Charles as mild.
- What did critics think of Brian and Charles?
- Critics broadly found the film an unusually endearing and wholesome blend of mockumentary comedy, science fiction whimsy, and heartfelt friendship.
- Which films are like Brian and Charles?
- Films with a similar feel include The Iron Giant, The Personal History of David Copperfield, What We Do in the Shadows, and Paddington.
- How long is Brian and Charles?
- Brian and Charles runs 91 minutes.
- Where can I watch Brian and Charles?
- In United States, Brian and Charles streams on Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads.
