In Today's World, "The Life of Chuck" Might Be Just What You Need

[the following review is spoiler free]

The People's Choice Award is the highest honor any film can receive at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). This past September had some of the stiffest competition TIFF had seen in years, but ultimately the top prize went to Mike Flanagan's The Life of Chuck starring Tom Hiddleston. After months of waiting, Neon has distributed the film that made audiences rave at TIFF, The Life of Chuck is set to premiere in the United States later this week. And in today's crazy, unpredictable world, this film might be exactly what you need to see and hear.

The Life of Chuck is based on a 2020 novella by Stephen King of all people, but it's not the kind of story audiences have come to expect from the author. It follows the life of Chuck Krantz, played by Tom Hiddleston in three distinct chapters. First we examine the end of his life, then the middle, then the start. We see his tragically short life develop in reverse and it forces us as audience members to reflect on our own lives, how we got here, and how we choose to spend our remaining time.

The film also includes other big names in the acting world such as Mark Hamill, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Karen Gillan, Matthew Lillard, and Jacob Tremblay. Nick Offerman uses his signature baritone to narrate the film and Mia Sara from Ferris Bueller's Day Off makes her first film appearance in over a decade as Chuck's grandmother. Director, Mike Flanagan, also worked as the film's editor, and used music from frequent collaborators, The Newton Brothers for the score.

Due to TIFF being such a massive, bustling festival I was not able to see The Life of Chuck until this week. But as soon as it premiered, it was hard to go somewhere without hearing rave reviews about it. It examines life and relationships similar to how the Daniels did in Everything Everywhere All at Once, and audiences just ate it up. It's nothing like the films Mike Flanagan has made in the past. Although he has a long resume of working with Stephen King, his projects have largely remained horror-centered like Doctor Sleep and Gerald's Game. The Life of Chuck however, is a sharp yet hopeful left-hand turn.

For some reason, The Life of Chuck did not resonate with me like it has for so many others. I found the story to be a bit disjointed and unevenly paced. But as someone whose mental health recovery was strongly aided by Harold and Maude, I can understand where all the adoration is coming from.

At the end of his 39 years on this Earth, Chuck Krantz is forced to look back on his life and how he has spent it, which has largely been as an accountant. This also happens against the backdrop of the world as we know it coming to a very realistic end. The bees have gone extinct, sinkholes are swallowing cars, and it just seems like there's no more hope left in the universe. Some of the characters however, take solace in Carl Sagan's teachings that humans are just one tiny insignificant part of Earth's history. Some hear that fact and tearfully think "nothing matters," but others, like Chuck optimistically think "oh my god, nothing matters." While my reaction to the film has been unfortunately lukewarm, hundreds of audience member reviews are proof that for many, this film has just what they need to hear.

Due to its success at TIFF, The Life of Chuck is sure to be a contender at next year's award season. Hopefully, after its wide release, more will be able to see it and realize that we all have "the right to be wonderful."