This simply delightful Wallace and Gromit-riffing absurdist comedy from Jim Archer follows Brian (David Earl), a lonely inventor of useless things who makes himself a robot friend from a mannequin and a washing machine. The AI mind of the robot, who calls himself Charles Petrescu (Chris Hayward), quickly progresses from helpless, loyal dog-child to stroppy teenager and eventually to student on a gap-year, his need for independence putting him in jeopardy from a family of bullying local farmers. BRIAN AND CHARLES is either the funniest film of the year or a completely and utterly baffling thing and it depends largely on how weird your sense of humour is. If you like deadpan delivery and surreal asides, you’ll have a great time and will get a really big-hearted and sweet story of friendship and dreams as a bonus. SSP