The Life of Chuck

Released 2024. Director: Mike Flanagan

LIFE IS FRAGILE. CHERISH EVERY MOMENT. BE THANKFUL -- I'm sure you've been told repeatedly in the movies. Probably one of the hardest themes to tackle well, these maxims can sound trite and corny if they're overdone, and we end up with a movie that’s banal and sappy.

The Life of Chuck is about all that. Rather than blanketing us over with greeting-card sentiments and sunset glows, the message is delivered in a different approach, blending elements of mystery, drama, a touch of the supernatural, even calling upon the late great astrophysicist Carl Sagan. You may not agree, but for me it works.

This is the kind of movie best left to each individual audience to connect the dots and discover the surprises for yourself. I will try not to rob you of that opportunity by giving too much away if you haven’t seen it. Ready? Let’s see what’s so special about this guy called Chuck.

Adapted from a short story by Stephen King, the movie in told in reverse, starting with a bewildering Act Three that only makes sense in retrospect. English teacher Marty Anderson (Chiwetel Ejiofor) is taking his distracted class through Walt Whitman’s poem with that immortal phrase "I contain multitudes" when news filters through that parts of California has crumbled into the ocean after an earthquake.

In the days to follow, the world will be ravaged by floods, wildfires and widespread unrest. The Internet stops working, technology shuts down, phones become useless, TVs go dark and cars are abandoned. People evetywhere are overcome with anxiety, including Marty’s ex-wife Felicia (Karen Glllan). As he attempts to walk across town to find her, Marty meets undertaker Sam and the two men talk about the universe, time, existence and wonder who might Charles Krantz be, whose billboards are all over town “Celebrating 39 great years”. Later that night, Marty reunites with Felicia, both knowing the world is coming to an end. They look up at the sky as one by one the stars begin to disappear. Nothing quite makes sense, but stay with the story.

What is most memorable in Act Two that follows is the movie’s key scene, a dance sequence featuring Tom Hiddleston. Meet Charles Krantz, otherwise known as Chuck, the man everyone wonders about in Act Three. He’s just a regular guy, a starchy accountant in business suit with a briefcase walking past a busker. Her solo drumbeat stops Chuck in mid-step. He pauses, as an aspiration he buried long ago returns and leads to some improvised but fancy footwork. Chuck even ropes in another passer-by, Janice, who’s just been dumped by her boyfriend by text.

No montage of the year’s movies would be complete without acknowledging this wonderful physical expression of joy when two strangers give themselves over to spontaneity and serendipity. It’s a splendid sequence, well shot and edited, truly delightful to watch. Did anyone know Loki is also an incredible dancer?

Finally in Act One, we see how Chuck’s childhood and adolescence has led to this moment, and how these people come to share in a vision of the end of the world.  Orphaned at a young age, Chuck is raised by his grandparents, played by Mark Hamill and Mia Sara. Young Chuck is taught the usefulness of math by his grandpa and the joy of dancing by his grandma, both pursuits will leave an indelible mark on his life. 

In the old Victorian house where they live there is a room with an unspeakable secret. Granpa forbids Chuck to enter this locked copula under the roof. Years later Chuck will discover the truth and understands why his grandpa says it's full of ghosts.

You’ve heard how it’s described that your life flashes before your eyes just before your last breath. In this movie it’s a mini movie starring faces from the past, familiar and just beyond recall. I wrote at the start that the message in The Life of Chuck is about cherishing life and gratitude. Not for own own, though. It’s asking us to be thankful that someone else lived, and how their life has made a difference in our own.

The Life of Chuck shows that you don’t have to be all heavy and serious when tackling big themes like facing your death and waiting for the final exit. In a series of vignettes the movie takes you on a flight, looking back on the meaningful moments and the multitude of faces come and gone. It’s poignant, inspirational and strangely comforting. 

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