Director Mike Flanagan may understand Stephen King鈥檚 darker side better than most, but he also has a good handle on the author鈥檚 sentimental bent.
In 鈥淭he Life of Chuck,鈥 he gets a chance to mine both.
Here, we discover, the end of the world seems imminent聽鈥斅燾ities are falling into the sea, the internet is crashing, streets are chaos. And yet, billboards appear congratulating Chuck Krantz on 鈥39 great years.鈥 Who is Chuck Krantz and why is he marking 39 years?
That鈥檚 where 鈥淐huck鈥檚鈥 reverse storytelling takes some getting used to. An accountant by trade, Krantz (Tom Hiddleston) appears to have lived an uneventful life. Yet in the second chapter of the story, we see him spontaneously dancing on the streets of Alabama. There, dark thoughts disappear and we realize it鈥檚 one of those seminal moments in a life.
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Tom Hiddleston pulls a woman from a crowd on the street after he starts dancing to a drummer in "The Life of Chuck."聽
The dance (which later includes Annalise Basso) is a joyous expression. Chuck offers up a series of moves 鈥 including the moonwalk 鈥 which prompts more questions.
Then, Flanagan flashes back to Chuck鈥檚 childhood and we discover he was never happier than when he was killing it on a dance floor. The moments (with Benjamin Pajak as a younger Chuck) are just as exhilarating. Pajak does a fine job matching Hiddleston, giving the character depth, and staking a claim to older influences 鈥 like his grandparents (Mark Hamill and Mia Sara).
In another chapter, we get a supernatural vibe, but Flanagan doesn鈥檛 press this like he would for a more traditional horror film. Instead, it鈥檚 a reference of sorts that helps us understand the Chuck Krantz trajectory.
Tom Hiddleston plays an unremarkable man in "The Life of Chuck."聽
Other characters 鈥 including former lovers (played by Chiwetel Ejiofor and Karen Gillan) 鈥 talk about the end of the world and what this means for us. As roundabout as it may seem, the end of Chuck Krantz is a wake-up call for us. What matters most in life? What stands out when that final curtain starts falling?
And that鈥檚 where 鈥淭he Life of Chuck鈥 becomes much more than a story told in reverse. Flanagan uses no-nonsense Nick Offerman as his narrator who helps us remember key points in the man鈥檚 life.
While that odd 鈥渄on鈥檛 go in the room鈥 segment has its place, it鈥檚 what keeps 鈥淟ife of Chuck鈥 from edging up to 鈥淪tand By Me鈥 as one of those great novella-turned-movie outings from King鈥檚 oeuvre. It鈥檚 still a touching, heartfelt movie, but the room where it happened could have used less horror film extras to leave an impression.
Hiddleston who, surprisingly, isn鈥檛 given much dialogue or even long scenes, makes an impact with his stellar dancing. He鈥檚 playing an accountant, but under the crisp lapels of his suit beats the heart of a hoofer. He sells it well and makes you want an encore.
Where 鈥淟ife of Chuck鈥 really succeeds is in passing the torch to others who help create the character (including Jacob Tremblay and Pajak). They鈥檙e just as invested and responsible for making this a film that can prompt viewers to reflect, too.
鈥淭he Life of Chuck鈥 is an eye-opener.
