The Life of Chuck is a movie that was made just for me. I’ve been a Mike Flanagan fan since long before The Haunting of Hill House, and as a Constant Reader, I’d read the short story and its collection If It Bleeds before the movie was released. I say this up front to say that I loved this movie, and while I’m going to try and be objective, I may not completely succeed. Apologies in advance.
The Life of Chuck, like the Stephen King short story, is told in reverse from end to beginning. I think this movie is best experienced blind, so I’ll simply say it’s about the life of Charles “Chuck” Kravitz starting with his death and ending with his childhood. I’ve seen some reviewers compare it to It’s a Wonderful Life and while that’s high praise, I think it’s both deserved and accurate.
Like It’s a Wonderful Life upon its initial release, The Life of Chuck is getting pretty mixed reviews. While its overall messaging about experiencing life and enjoying the people around us is pretty strong throughout, some view it as trite optimism or overly sentimental. I don’t think either of these takes are necessarily wrong, but this is a movie that isn’t going to work for everyone. It’s an intentional exploration of the beauty of human life, and like Flanagan’s other works, features expository monologues where the characters discuss the meaning of it all. That being said, some might find it preachy and a bit dull at times.
Flanagan cares about giving King a faithful adaptation here and it shows. The inclusion of the narrator (played by Nick Offerman) serves exclusively to add King’s own voice to the movie, usually lost in most adaptations due to the lack of character perspective and inner monologues present in his books. Just about nothing is left out, for better or for worse. Fans of King will be delighted here, but those who haven’t read the short story may be confused or find themselves questioning certain moments.
The dance scenes are by far the movie’s most engaging moments. They’re done exactly as described in the book, complete with King’s narration. I was concerned since the only soundtrack is drums for the Act 2 scene, but it’s arguably the best part of the movie. All the dance numbers are well-choreographed and have fun Easter eggs that add to the movie’s plot. They end up serving as the glue that holds everything together, mimicking Chuck’s love for dance as a central thread throughout his life.
The cast is excellent here and while there are many standouts, no one really pulls down the energy. Seeing Mark Hamill play all these character roles is a blast, and even though he’s only in one act, he’s equally sweet and haunting as Chuck’s grandpa. I was particularly surprised by Benjamin Pajak, a relative newcomer who was so good I swore I’d seen him in something else. The whole Flanagan team is here too, and you’ll recognize Rahul Kohli, Samantha Sloyan and Kate Siegel from many of his other projects. They’re all a delight though, and it’s obvious why he keeps recasting them.
I think this movie works so well as a whole. I say that because during its act-by-act structure, there are moments that are a bit slow, or even a little awkward. When you look at the whole thing together though during the film’s final credits, it’s a masterpiece. Yes, it’s optimistic, but in a way that feels earnest and still gives weight to life’s hard and painful moments. King is a master storyteller, and The Life of Chuck is one of his best non-horror works. Flanagan is a match made in heaven for King, and as a fan of both, I can only hope for more movies like this. Thanks Chuck!
