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Review by James Lindorf
Like Frank Darabont before him, screenwriter and director Mike Flanagan is becoming Stephen King’s go-to filmmaker. “Gerald’s Game” and “Doctor Sleep” already adorn his resume, and future projects include Prime Video series adaptations of “Carrie” and “The Dark Tower.” But at present, his latest project is an adaptation of a novella in King’s short story collection, “If It Bleeds.” Opening in select theaters on June 6th and everywhere on June 13, “The Life of Chuck” is a genre-bending tale that celebrates the life of Charles’ Chuck’ Krantz as he experiences the wonder of love, the heartbreak of loss, and the multitudes contained in all of us.
“The Life of Chuck” opens with Marty Anderson (Chiwetel Ejiofor) doing his best to teach classic poetry, but all of his students interrupt the lesson with the breaking news that part of California has fallen into the sea. Life is unstable in “Act 3: Thanks, Chuck,” there are massive floods, famine, and plague; even Pornhub is down, with the rest of the internet not far behind. During these troubled times, people wonder what is more common, divorces or weddings. While the answer is unknown, we see people seeking a connection, like Marty and his ex-wife Felicia Gordon (Karen Gillan). Felicia is a nurse but thinks of herself as more of an undertaker with the amount of death surrounding her lately, each disaster and death ratcheting up her loneliness. While they gather to comfort each other and speculate just who Charles Krantz is, a soothing narrator (Nick Offerman) fills in some blanks and leads us into “Act 2: Buskers” and the rest of Chuck’s story.
At this point, Chuck is at a conference on his way back to the hotel when he is compelled to move to the beat created by a Juilliard dropout turned sidewalk drummer. The second act is where Tom Hiddleston shines with a dance number and some subtle acting, but it is by far the shortest of the three acts, with most of the time spent in “Act 1: I Contain Multitudes.” In act one, Chuck is played by excellent newcomer Benjamin Pajak. Supporting the first-time actor is a surprising cast, including Mark Hamil and Mia Sara as his loving grandparents who take in the orphaned child. There is also the neighborhood busybody, played by Heather Langencamp, and teachers, played by returning Flanagan collaborators Kate Siegel and Samantha Sloyan. This segment teaches Chuck about life, death, love, and the bravery it takes to live in the moment and develops him into the Chuck we’ve already met.
Time is the key element in “The Life of Chuck.” The time spent waiting for something to happen, the moments that are lost, and the times we have the bravery to live without restraint. Referenced multiple times in the film is Carl Sagan’s Cosmic Calendar, which reminds us that human existence is a fraction of the universe’s lifespan. Another oft-referenced piece is the Walt Whitman poem “Songs of Myself.” The 170-year-old piece is broken into 52 numbered sections thought to mirror the weeks of the year. King and Flanagan’s main point of focus comes from the 51st section near the end of the poem’s life and states: “Do I contradict myself? Very well then I contradict myself, (I am large, I contain multitudes.).” That contradiction between our insignificance and our enormity is that we are all individuals with a myriad of physical and emotional weaknesses but can mean the world to others.
“The Life of Chuck” is not a perfect film; we become invested in characters that disappear from one act to another, some never to return. While most of the acting is stellar, some moments fall short of those lofty heights, most notably in the final beats of Matthew Lillard’s performance during an overall great interaction with Marty. You can feel him trying and almost getting there, but he couldn’t reach the fear and realization of a man on the edge of breaking. Adding to the list of shortcomings is the abundance of voiceover throughout the film. It serves as a comedic element and propels the story forward, but there is a better version where Chuck is always that driving force.
However, like the contradictions within its central character, there is also beauty and gravity to “The Life of Chuck,” which pulls you in and refuses to let you go. It comes from the honesty of its message, the quirkiness of its construction and delivery, and the power of the performances. “Sinners” is the best-made movie I have seen this year. Josh Hartnett’s over-the-top action movie “Fight or Flight” is the most fun I have had with a movie this year. “The Life of Chuck” may very well end up being my favorite movie of the year and earns a 4.5 out of 5 which may only go up with repeated viewing.
Director: Mike Flanagan
Producer: Trevor Macy, Mike Flanagan
Screenwriter: Mike Flanagan
Distributor: NEON
Production Co: Intrepid Pictures, Red Room Pictures
Rating: R (Language)
Genre: Drama, Sci-Fi, Fantasy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Limited): June 6th, 2025
Release Date (Wide): June 13th, 2025
Runtime: 1h 50m
