The Life of Chuck. Never has a film begged us to take a moment to just dance. Literally or metaphorically life is meant to be danced through. This one journey can be a beautiful one even in the midst of heartbreak. The Life of Chuck is a reminder to take a breath, engage with those around us, and dream big.
Synopsis: From the hearts and minds of Stephen King and Mike Flanagan comes THE LIFE OF CHUCK, the extraordinary story of an ordinary man. This unforgettable, genre-bending tale 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. | Rated R for language | 1h 50m
Normally when we think of author Stephen King we conjure up killer clowns or haunted hotels. Those who have read all of his works, especially the short stories, know that he has a way of taking every day life and shining an odd light on it. Often one that is whimsical. The Life of Chuck is an adaption of King’s short manifested by director Mike Flanagan. Mike is another one that we are used to seeing in a more macabre, dark world. This film may have some dark corners to peek into and of course a bit of fantasy, but at the heart is a beautifully told narrative.
The film is shown in three acts which move backward in time. The opening segment is one that many might find terrifying due to the probability. We find a world dealing with a loss of any sort of communication, be it online, TV, or radio. The aftermath of which is somber and reflective chaos. Those on screen act as I imagine we all would. As the movie progresses it gets a bit lighter in tone as questions are answered in the most creative and unique way.
Adult Chuck is played by Tom Hiddleston. If ever an actor had the broad scope to play a character like Chuck it is Hiddleston. In a movie that is meant to keep us a little off balance you need someone who brings a bit of charm and wry Loki smile. If ever there was a breakout performance it would be from young actor Benjamin Pajak who leads much of the film as the younger Chuck. We need to keep an eye on this kids career for sure. We watch the young Chuck as he grows up with his grandparents (Mark Hamill and Mia Sara). Pajak is endearing, humorous and never does his emotion seem forced or over done. That is so important in a role like this.
Normally timeline films can get muddled or confusing. This one works nicely as we are so engaged from the opening we can’t wait to see how the world got to that point. It is a sweet story of adolescence but seen through the lens of someone having already lived it. Flanagan’s adaption of King’s story is wonderful. We have seen Mike take other stories and do the same thing. This time around the big screen is the perfect backdrop.
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