A film adaptation of Stephen King’s work by a horror director, Mike Flanagan (Ouija: Origin of Evil, Doctor Sleep) isn’t usually something I’d go for. Even during the promos for this film, Mark Hamill said he initially assumed it’d be a hair-raising thriller when he first came across the project, but it turned out to be a heartwarming, life-affirming story.

The movie is based on a novella from Stephen King’s If It Bleeds anthology of short stories. It’s structured in three acts, but presented in reverse, kicking off with Act 3: Thanks Chuck, where we find ourselves in an apocalyptic situation. High school teacher Marty (Chiwetel Ejiofor) is at a parent-teacher meeting, but instead of worrying about their kids, the parents are just complaining about the loss of the internet. Some are pretty hilarious, as single dad Josh (David Dastmalchian) laments that PornHub is down.

As more disasters and strange supernatural events unfold, billboards and ads start appearing, featuring an accountant named Charles “Chuck” Krantz, with the message “39 Great Years! Thanks, Chuck!” As their world falls apart, losing phone service and electricity, Marty visits his ex-wife Felicia’s (Karen Gillan) house, and they witness the stars literally disappearing from the sky.

I haven’t read King’s short story, and I have to admit I find the first chapter to be confusing, that is, until the final moment of Act 3. We see Chuck, the man in the ads and billboard, lying on a hospital bed with his wife and son next to him. His wife (Q’orianka Kilcher) thanks Chuck for 39 great years, the same words as in those ubiquitous ads, as he drew his last breath. It would’ve been depressing if that were the end of the film, but thankfully, it’s only the end of one chapter, and the next Act: Buskers Forever, is absolutely delightful.

We’re introduced to 30-something Chuck (Tom Hiddleston), dressed in a suit, carrying a briefcase for a banking conference. He stumbles upon a busking drummer (Taylor Gordon) on the street, who starts drumming for Chuck as he walks towards her. Chuck starts to sway and bursts into a dance right then and there. As a crowd gathers, he invites Janice (Annalise Basso), who’s just been dumped by her boyfriend via text earlier that day. The dance-like-nobody’s-watching scene is one of those magical movie moments that sweeps me off my feet. I knew Hiddleston is a great dancer, from all the viral social media videos and internet memes, but it’s wonderful to see the charming Brit show off his killer dance moves properly on screen.

The dance is a burst of joy, freedom, and spontaneity. Chuck realized his time was short, so he decided to fully enjoy life by engaging in something he loves. I figured that someone important must have shown him how to dance, and as expected, we discover more about Chuck’s early years in Act 1: I Contain Multitudes.

That quote comes from Walt Whitman’s poem, and Chuck’s teacher, Ms. Richards (Kate Seigel) explains that he contains multitudes, and the memories he collects throughout his life create a whole universe in his mind. Reflecting on the happenings in Act 1, this scene suggests that all the apocalyptic scenarios are merely products of Chuck’s imagination, illustrating how he navigates the vast array of experiences, feelings, and memories he accumulates over time.

Chuck’s childhood is marked by sadness after losing his parents to a car accident, which also killed his unborn sister. Chuck’s raised by his grandparents: Albie (Mark Hamill), an accountant, and Sarah (Mia Sara), who instills his love for dance. As someone who’s been raised by a grandmother, I can relate to Chuck in this way. I love both Sara and Hamill in their roles. It’s nice to see Hamill showcase his dramatic chops here as a man who drowns his sorrows in alcohol, yet still manages to impart his personal wisdom to his grandchild. Some notably eerie scenes in this chapter could’ve been straight out of a horror film. Albie forbids Chuck to go up to the house’s cupola, which he says is haunted, but of course, it only makes the kid want to go there.

Jacob Tremblay

Benjamin Pajak

I’m really impressed by Benjamin Pajak, who plays the 11-year-old Chuck. I love his expressive face, which makes some of the long-drawn-out scenes bearable. There’s a memorable dance sequence here as well with his girl crush, Cat (Trinity Bliss). Jacob Tremblay is wonderful as the teenage Chuck. He looks all grown up and fittingly portrays a boy wise beyond his years as life deals him another big loss. The big reveal in the cupola scene, which I won’t spoil here, is rather mysterious. This is the type of film that requires me to do some extra digging after watching to really understand its intricacies and subtleties. It’s refreshing that this film doesn’t just spoon-feed you everything; instead, it leaves room for interpretation as we connect themes like death, loss, and love to our own experiences.

The casting is terrific overall, though I was a bit distracted as so many of the actors had worked in a Marvel movie. Nick Offerman’s voice-over narration adds a touch of whimsy in each exposition, though at times I feel like it’s a bit excessive and too matter-of-fact. Though Hiddleston is the face of the film, this is more of an ensemble piece where each actor gets to shine, including Matthew Lillard as Marty’s neighbor Gus in Act 1.

The Life of Chuck is a sweet, poignant existential drama with a simple but powerful message. Regardless of whether we are aware of when death approaches, it’s up to us to build a vibrant and beautiful world for ourselves. I admire how Chuck refuses to let his grim outlook stop him from fully enjoying life, declaring, “I am wonderful, I deserve to be wonderful, and I contain multitudes.”

Have you seen or read The Life of Chuck? I’d love to hear what you think!

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