The Life of Chuck

The sci-fi drama The Life of Chuck is based on a Stephen King short novella of the same name, which is included in the 2020 story collection called If It Bleeds. The screenplay and film are written and directed by Mike Flanagan (Gerald’s Game, Doctor Sleep). The film is broken down into three acts told in reverse chronological order. Despite being based on a Stephen King story, this is not a horro...

It’s incredibly frustrating to watch a film that has so much potential but ultimately fails to capitalize on it. Such is the case with one of the most heavily anticipated offerings of the summer movie season, “The Life of Chuck, from writer-director Mike Flanagan, based on the short story of the same name from author Steven King. Told in three acts in reverse chronological order, the picture follo...

This movie is cute, sweet and warm. There is also a mid-run dance and musical number. I liked this better before we knew Chuck. Not that Chuck is a bad guy. I just liked it better. I wanted something funny. This is smiley. I didn't want something so lacking in any excitement beyond its shiny exterior. It looks good. It seems good. Whatever.

I began watching this movie, expecting it to be about what it’s like to live in an offline world. I didn’t even know that this movie is a Stephen King adaptation. I usually detest films with too much symbolism, but this one kept me hooked, so I watched it to the end. Different from what I expected but great nonetheless. Makes you think.

Though Tom Hiddleston takes top billing, the film really belongs to his younger iteration from Benjamin Pajak. Both (and Jacob Tremblay) play “Chuck” at various stages of his life as it retrospectively interweaves the lives of others in their small community. We start at the end, sort of thing, with the Earth of teacher “Marty” (Chiwitel Ejiofor) facing an apocalyptic end surrounded by posters of ...