Brian Review: Ben Wang Continues His Stellar Run In Hilariously Vulnerable High School Comedy

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Most high school movies don’t portray teenagers as genuinely mature or give them realistic conversations. Even fewer handle sensitive topics like mental health without sounding overly moralistic or forced. What makes Will Ropp’s first film as director so special is that it does both of these things effortlessly, with a refreshing acceptance that making mistakes is often just part of life – and can even be funny.

Ben Wang stars as Brian, a seventeen-year-old who battles anxiety, often expressed as sudden, intense anger. Everyone at school is aware of his struggles, and teachers follow a specific plan when he gets upset. This is incredibly humiliating for Brian, especially because he has a strong crush on his teacher, Ms. Osweiler (Natalie Morales), and feels it’s more than just a typical teenage infatuation – he believes it’s genuine love.

Brian Soars Thanks To A Refreshingly Real Understanding of Mental Health Challenges

A major reason this project succeeds is Ki Hong Lee, who is consistently delivering fantastic performances, including in the upcoming films The Long Walk and Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass. He’s brilliantly funny and deeply moving as Brian, making the character feel incredibly authentic. This is thanks to the thoughtfully written dialogue by Mike Scollins, a writer for Late Night With Seth Meyers. Overall, the project is remarkably effective. It understands its strengths and delivers them with honesty and a sharp, genuine sense of humor.

Brian is remarkably authentic – a breath of fresh air, especially now when young people feel so much pressure to have their lives planned out. He’s not entirely sure what he wants to do, but he’s committed to giving it a shot, even if it means stepping outside his comfort zone. He tries out for the drama club, delivering his Julius Caesar monologue with an over-the-top British accent. While his audition went well, Brian’s social anxiety makes it hard for him to feel confident. When the drama teacher begins discussing his performance within earshot, Brian unexpectedly explodes in anger, ultimately telling his teacher to go away.

It’s hard for everyone – even Brian himself – to figure things out. His parents, Edi Patterson and Randall Park, are kind and well-meaning, but sometimes offer conflicting advice or unintentionally dismiss his feelings. His brother, Kyle (Sam Song Li), seems to have it all together – he’s athletic, popular, and often teases Brian. But despite their differences and occasional friction, it’s obvious they all care about Brian and want him to succeed.

When Brian unexpectedly decides to run for student class president—mainly because his teacher, Ms. Osweiler, is helping him—everyone is surprised. It feels out of character for him, and the movie struggles to explain why he would put himself in this situation. Considering his significant social difficulties, it’s hard to believe he’d willingly take on such a challenge, even aside from his usual crushes.

Despite the challenges, the story offers some lovely insights and naturally challenges the typical ideas of what makes someone cool, intelligent, gifted, or good-looking – or any other label high school often uses. Brian’s character is a great representation of anyone who’s ever felt like an outsider. It’s a simple idea, but the director handles it skillfully. His understated style lets the audience consider what they truly want from life as adults, even if they’re already living it.

The show Brian features wonderfully quirky and heartfelt performances. While Edi Patterson is known for her roles in Righteous Gemstones and Comedy Bang! Bang!, she delivers a unique and relatable performance as a mother struggling to keep up. She’s hilarious both when playfully flirting with Brian’s friend, Justin (played by Joshua Colley), and when offering her son genuine support. Jacob Moskovitz and Mackenna Shults perfectly portray Brian’s unusual peers in student government, and Colley brings a surprising sweetness to a role that could easily have been a cliché.

This film truly showcases Ben Wang’s talent, and he delivers a fantastic performance. It’s wonderful to see an actor perfectly matched with a role. The filmmakers, Ropp and Scollins, have captured that pivotal moment in young adulthood when you realize the world extends far beyond your own experiences. That journey can be tough, and it certainly is for Brian, but it’s also funny, lighthearted, and full of the simple joys of growing up and discovering new things.

Brian screened at the 2026 SXSW Film & TV Festival.

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2026-03-15 01:19