DIRECTOR
Mike Flanagan
Doctor Sleep, Ouija: Origin of Evil

STARS
Nick Offerman, Tom Hiddleston, Jacob Tremblay, Benjamin Pajak, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Karen Gillan, Mark Hamill, Mia Sara, Annalise Basso, Samantha Sloyan, Trinity Jo-Li Bliss and The Pocket Queen

Co-writer and Director Mike Flanagan’s fourth adaptation of a Stephen King book, this one based on a short story from his compilation book, If It Bleeds, is told in reverse chronology starting at act 3 and ending with act 1.

Each act is about, or at least features, the titular character, known as Charles ‘Chuck’ Krantz and also features voice over work by Nick Offerman. In act 1, Charles (played by Tom Hiddleston) is 39 years old and has his name and face glorified everywhere. Here, we are encouraged to ask who he is and what he has done to be thanked this way. In act 2, Charles (still Tom Hiddleston) is a little younger and enjoys a random encounter (a purely pleasurable G-rated kind) with a street busker (The Pocket Queen). There are different characters in this act and the story bears little in common to the last. Act 1, Chuck (played by more than one actor) is a child who lives with his grandparents, Albie and Sarah (Mark Hamill and Mia Sara, respectively). In this first and final act, we learn the cupola in Albie and Sarah’s home is strictly off-limits and of what significance this space, and what is in or happens there, has to Chuck’s life throughout the 3 acts.

For a variety of reasons, The Life of Chuck is a film I am left largely underwhelmed by. But before I go into this in my typically spoiler-free fashion, I must first and foremost affirm that this light drama is always benevolent, entertaining and is the type of movie the world and many of us in it kind of needs right now.

Going into The Life of Chuck, I had hoped for and semi-expected it to have more similarities to and evoke feelings akin to another film that I hold in high regard, which also chronicles one person’s life from young to older: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Chuck never even gets close. That let down is partially on me for having expectations (always a risky thing to possess going into any movie; doc’s advice is not to!) in the first place, so I can definitely extend some leniency to the film and my assessment of it. While waiting for The Life of Chuck to reach The Curious Case of Benjamin Button heights during the third act (remember, that comes first!), I was certainly drawn in by the aspects that bring mystery to what is initially a wholly unforeseen yet compelling opening act. As act 1 ends and act 2 commences, the script has opened our curiosities far and wide and created anticipation. An infectious feel-good factor kicks-in in act 2, but this is where it also loses much of its substance and where I began to feel as though The Life of Chuck might be alluding to more than the sum of its parts. A feeling that unfortunately and disappointingly comes to fruition by the end of its first and final act. Once we become privy to the secrets underpinning this film, I was not only left with the thought ‘is that it!?’ but also found the movie misleading.

What The Life of Chuck does do well is invite reflection and be life-affirming as it promises, and it is for these reasons alone I would still recommend it quite broadly to people. It achieves this courtesy of its humane characters, pensive music score and performances that provide effortless escapism.

The Life of Chuck is showing in cinemas across Australia from August 14th, 2025.

Moviedoc thanks Studiocanal and Annette Smith: Ned & Co for the invitation to the screening of this film. 

Review by Leigh for Moviedoc

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