The Average Viewer - Review of The Life of Chuck
Right off the bat – I usually only write about films and TV I’ve enjoyed. I’m no expert, and while this one has been highly rated by professional critics… unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy it.
The Life of Chuck, directed by Mike Flanagan, is based on a Stephen King novella. It’s billed as a fantasy drama exploring the life of Charles “Chuck” Krantz, told in reverse over three acts, with supposed themes of joy and interconnectedness.
At first, I thought I was in for science fiction. As a long-time sci-fi fan, it gave me faint Kurt Vonnegut vibes — but without the punch of Slaughterhouse-Five or the wit of Douglas Adams’ Restaurant at the End of the Universe. To be fair, it’s from a short story, not a novel, so maybe that’s part of it.
The film has been described as a “moving celebration of life” and even a “modern fairy tale.” I didn’t get that. For me, it was overly emotional and sad with no real escape. We know from the start Chuck dies young, and his life is shown as ordinary — much like our own. That’s fine in theory, but it left me feeling flat rather than inspired.
Yes, there are uplifting dance and music moments, and good choreography is always enjoyable. But the stories felt disconnected in tone:
First: an odd, omnipresent figure in an end-of-the-world drama.
Second: a rather dull man escaping into a shopping mall dance sequence.
Third: a boy coping with grief through dance before his own death.
Tom Hiddleston leads a strong cast, with impressive performances from the younger actors. The dance sequences are superb and made me smile. The cinematography is beautiful, and the pacing is steady — though I admit I drifted, especially in Act 1.
Honestly, dear viewer — unless you’re into an art-house fantasy/sci-fi, family-friendly musical that’s also kind of depressing, I’d give this one a miss.
Rating: Two out of five cups of your favourite brew. (The established critics will strongly disagree with me — and it’ll probably collect a shelf of awards.)