Three acts in the life of Chuck (Tom Hiddleston) told in reverse order. Beginning with the apocalypse and ending with a childhood beset by setbacks. All framed in a reassuringly life affirming manner. 

The three acts in the Life of Chuck initially feel somewhat disconnected, but it is in the explanation of how they come together that you will find a story that is both warmly life affirming and quite a tear jerker. 

It begins at the end of the world. Teacher Marty Anderson (Chiwetel Ejiofor) seeks out the company of his ex-wife Felicia Gordon (Karen Gillan) as the world slowly falls apart. We hear about earthquakes, floods and sinkholes rather than see them as hope ebbs away and people seek out a friend for their final moments as some rather peculiar adverts for a man no one knows called Chuck Krantz appear everywhere. 

The middle act is where we get to meet Chuck and hear about where life has taken him. We are also treated to a dance sequence that Chuck himself cannot quite explain but feels buoyed by. 

And the end is Chuck as a young boy living with his Grandma (Mia Sara) and Grandpa (Mark Hamill) who pass on rather opposing life lessons and expectations. 

The result is a film that feels as though it has something important to say but does it with a light touch. Which surprisingly feels rather odd and disconcerting at times and I am sure that many might find that one particular segment of the film does not work for them or is the weaker third. 

The film features a large ensemble cast and whilst Hiddleston may play the titular character he by no means is the star of the show, although perhaps his dancing is. But personally I found Nick Offerman’s narration to be the standout performance. A man who can deliver so much nuance with his wordplay is perfect for a film that requires connective tissue between its three acts. 

The Life of Chuck is based on a Stephen King novella of the same name that was released in 2020. The adaptation here by writer/director Mike Flanagan is extraordinarily faithful to King’s work and is Flanagan’s third consecutive feature film based on a Stephen King work following Gerald’s Game and Doctor Sleep. He is of course working on another adaptation of King for his next project, a TV series based on the book Carrie. Flanagan clearly has a special connection with Stephen King’s work in the same manner that Frank Darabont (The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile) does. 

Recommended to those who want a gentle, impactful statement on what it is to live.