The Life of Chuck

by Mike McGranaghan

It’s interesting that most of the best Stephen King movies are based on his non-horror work: The Shawshank Redemption, Stand by Me, The Green Mile. That’s not to say there aren’t great adaptations of his scary stories. IT and Misery spring immediately to mind. Transferring his distinct style to the screen is tricky, though, and a lot of filmmakers focus on the frights rather than the underlying meaning that’s always on the page. Mike Flanagan has experience successfully adapting the author, having made movie versions of Gerald’s Game and Doctor Sleep. Now he brings one of King’s non-horror short stories to the screen with the outstanding The Life of Chuck.

The plot happens in reverse. During the first section, the world seems to be on the verge of ending, and not just because the internet is gone. School teacher Marty Anderson (Chiwetel Ejiofor) is sufficiently disconcerted by what he sees to get together with ex-wife Felicia (Karen Gillan) for what may be their final moments. Strangely, all around town, there are billboards and signs thanking an accountant named Chuck Kantz (Tom Hiddleston), although nobody seems to know who he is or why he’s being thanked so often.

To reveal anything else specific would be unfair because so much of the film’s impact depends upon the mystery it creates. Let’s simply say that in the second and third sections, you learn a lot more about Chuck, including his childhood being raised by his grandparents Sarah (Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’s Mia Sara) and Albie (Mark Hamill). His love of dancing comes into play, too, as does a forbidden cupola in the upstairs of the house.

King and Flanagan are dealing with no less a subject than life itself. The Life of Chuck suggests that we all have a universe in our heads, and it’s comprised of all the memories we’ve had, the experiences we’ve lived, and the people we’ve loved. Over the course of 111 minutes, Chuck’s universe unfolds before us. His memories, experiences, and loved ones connect in a manner that makes the movie’s first section resonate powerfully. His journey is filled with ups and downs, good times and bad times. The plot delves into how he grows to appreciate that journey, no matter what.

This is enough to evoke an emotional reaction. The movie goes a step further. Through telling Chuck’s story, it gets you to think about your journey, and that’s where it proves to be a real gut-punch. Every single one of us has memories we cherish, regrets we wish could undo, and people whose presence in our lives has meant the world to us. You will absolutely think about those things as you watch.

The performances are wonderful across the board, with Mark Hamill doing work that deserves serious awards consideration. Hiddleston is similarly excellent, creating a character whose appreciation of the universe inside his own head provides a measure of acceptance right when he needs it. The Life of Chuck is a heartwarming celebration of what it means to live.

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