Thanks Chuck, for two great hours.

Directed by Mike Flanagan, The Life of Chuck tells the story of Charles ‘Chuck’ Krantz (Tom Hiddleston), a mild-mannered accountant whose life is normal in every way. However, there’s something about this ordinary man’s life that still seems extraordinary, even if few people know who he is.

Simply put, Chuck is one of the best films of the year. Adapted from one of Stephen King’s short stories, Chuckis shockingly earnest and heartfelt yet also more than willing to sit in the darkest of themes. It is imaginative, philosophical and inexplicably infused with heart. This is a story that lovingly talks about life, death and everything in-between and still manages to offer the viewer hope for the journey, without ever giving itself over to sentimentality.

Credit must be given to a cast that makes the most of their limited minutes. Though characters change from episode to episode, everyone here brings their best. Keeping things together, of course, is Hiddleston as Chuck himself. Although Hiddleston is in the film far less than one would expect, he brings a blend of mischievousness, sadness and innocence to the character that makes him fascinating to watch.

Having said this though, the best performance in the film may be Mark Hamill. As Chuck’s grandfather, Hamill is utterly captivating onscreen. An aging accountant with a deep affection for mathematics, the veteran actor is endearing and, at times, terrifying as he attempts to help direct his young grandson through the challenges of life. And it may be the best work of his career.

Although the film is broken up into three distinct (and reverse sequentially) segments, the transition between them is absolutely seamless. Although there is little overlap between actors, the connections within Chuck’s life hold everything together perfectly. But what makes this continuity even more amazing is the fact that the film truly does bend genres. Each segment takes on a different style, ranging from apocalyptic science fiction to coming-of-age drama. In essence, this is a film that, on paper, doesn’t seem like it should work at all. But it does.

In fact, Life of Chuck absolutely sparkles.

There’s simply something life-giving about this piece that stands out. Similar to The Shawshank Redemption,Chuck is a film that sits with its characters in moments of trauma but still manages to emphasize the importance of living life to the fullest. From the moment that we first see an image of Chuck, we know he’s a person of great importance yet we don’t know why. (After all, why is everyone so obsessed with thanking him for 39 great years?)

Even so, as the film unfolds, we’re struck by how truly ordinary he is. Without giving any spoilers, Chuck’s everyday life could be anyone’s. Good-natured and honest, he’s simply a man who is living his life as genuinely as possible. But there’s also an inexplicable spark in him that makes him unique.

In short, Chuck Krantz is extraordinarily ordinary. And that’s what makes this film special.

Rooting itself in Whitman’s famed quote that ‘[we] contain multitudes’, Life of Chuck is a story that reminds us of the value of every human life, no matter how average they may appear to be. Whether he’s dancing in elementary school or attending a conference, Chuck is a man who makes the world better just by being a part of it. Yes, he is human, grappling with the inevitable end that faces us all. But so too is he a man willing to seize the moment to bring joy when it approaches him. And, in doing so, his joy has a sort of ‘ripple effect’ on the universe.

For this reason, you can’t help but fall in love with Chuck. Somehow, Flanagan has created a story that simply feels timeless. Everything about this film feels life-giving. And strangely, even if none of us are Chuck, this is the sort of film that reminds us that our story is equally as important as its own main character.

After all, he’s not the only one that ‘contains multitudes’.

The Life of Chuck is available in theatres on Friday, June 13th, 2025.