I’ll tell you right off the bat, Life of Chuck is easily one of the best movies I’ve seen this year. There’s this charm to it that’s quite hard to describe, but everything just seemed to… work. I get that it won’t be for everyone, but I absolutely loved it.
In a way, I think this is our generation’s Truman Show, a story that touches on hope, dreams, and living in your imagination. There’s a quote straight from the movie that perfectly captures how I feel about it (and it’s even partially borrowed from Walt Whitman): “I am wonderful. I deserve to be wonderful. And I contain multitudes.” That line just hits differently, you know?
Mike Flanagan does an amazing job here with another Stephen King adaptation, and here’s the thing, it’s not horror. It’s refreshing to see Flanagan stretch into different territory with Life of Chuck while still maintaining that emotional depth he’s known for. This isn’t the mystical, supernatural King we’re used to seeing on the screen. Instead, it feels more grounded, more in line with something like Stand by Me or Shawshank Redemption, those King stories that find the extraordinary in the ordinary. Sure, there’s still a touch of something otherworldly woven in, but it’s subtle, never overwhelming the human story at the center.
What really caught me off guard was how Flanagan structures the whole thing. Life of Chuck unfolds in three acts, but here’s the twist: it’s told in reverse, following Chuck’s life from his final moments back to his childhood. It’s the kind of narrative choice that could easily feel gimmicky or confusing, but it works beautifully here. There’s something profound about experiencing a life backwards, seeing how all the pieces fit together in ways you couldn’t have understood going forward.
And then there’s Nick Offerman’s narration threading throughout the entire movie. On paper, this sounds like it could have been a disaster. Whether it be exposition-heavy, intrusive, or just unnecessary. But Offerman brings this warm, contemplative quality to it that perfectly matches the movie’s tone. His voice becomes this gentle guide through Chuck’s story, never overshadowing what we’re seeing but enhancing it in ways that feel completely natural.
The performances across the board are just phenomenal. Mark Hamill deserves any awards consideration for his work as Chuck’s grandfather. This is a character who somehow manages to make mathematics feel like magic, and Hamill brings this perfect blend of mischief and genuine wisdom to the role. There’s this scene where he’s trying to get young Chuck excited about numbers, and you can see exactly why this kid would grow up carrying that enthusiasm with him. It’s the kind of performance that reminds you why Hamill has had such staying power as an actor.
Jacob Tremblay continues to prove he’s one of the most naturally gifted young performers working today. He takes on his role with this effortless authenticity that never feels like “acting”. Tom Hiddleston brings his signature combination of vulnerability and charm to Chuck, making you genuinely invested in this character’s journey through life. Mia Sara delivers something really special in her role, and even Matthew Lillard, in what amounts to a brief appearance, manages to leave a lasting impression.
But what really sets this movie apart are those moments of pure, unexpected joy. The dance sequences (and I won’t say more than that to avoid spoilers) are absolutely magical. They capture something about the human spirit that’s both deeply personal and universally relatable. These scenes embody that charm I mentioned earlier, the thing that’s hard to put into words but impossible to ignore when you’re experiencing it.
Life of Chuck has this way of making you think about the stories we tell ourselves, the dreams we carry, and how to make sense of a life that defies logic. It’s about finding wonder in the mundane and recognizing that every person contains these vast, complex inner worlds. Chuck’s story becomes a meditation on what it means to live fully. It asks us to embrace both the ordinary and extraordinary moments that make up a life.
Now, I’ll be up front, this movie won’t work for everyone. The reverse storytelling structure might feel too unconventional for some viewers. The pacing is deliberate, more contemplative than fast-moving, which could test the patience of audiences expecting something more traditionally plotted. And without giving anything away, there’s a revelation toward the end that, while I found it beautifully executed, is the kind of thing that will either land perfectly or leave you unsatisfied. It’s not unpredictable, and you most likely will see it coming, but the execution and how it ties into the movie’s structure is what makes it work.
This is Mike Flanagan showing serious range as a filmmaker. We know him primarily for his work in horror (Midnight Mass, Haunting of Hill House, Doctor Sleep), but Life of Chuck proves he’s got the chops to handle completely different material while maintaining that emotional intelligence that makes his genre work so effective. It’s like Frank Darabont (another director who tackled Stephen King) pivots from horror to something like Shawshank. You realize you’re dealing with a filmmaker who understands storytelling on a fundamental level, regardless of genre.
The whole experience of Life of Chuck left me feeling oddly optimistic. Like I’d been reminded of something important I’d forgotten. It’s rare to walk out of a theater feeling genuinely uplifted without the movie having earned it through cheap sentiment or easy answers. This one earns every bit of the hope it offers by taking its characters and their struggles seriously, by finding authentic moments of beauty in an often difficult world.
NEON continues to prove they know how to choose projects that feel both unique and emotionally resonant. This is exactly the kind of movie that benefits from a studio willing to take risks on unconventional storytelling.
If this doesn’t crack my top 10 this year, I’d be genuinely surprised. It’s the kind of movie that sticks with you, that you find yourself thinking about days later, still unpacking all the ways it managed to get under your skin in the best possible way. Life of Chuck reminded me why I love movies. Sometimes you stumble into something that surprises you completely, that makes you feel grateful for the experience of being human. That’s worth celebrating. Because Life of Chuck is wonderful and it contains multitudes.
That Nerd Zach 