The Stream: The plot is a little too disjointed and disconnected.

The Big Screen: Some sweet and sentimental moments.

The Final Bill: A heartwarming drama that ultimately fizzles out.

– Trip Fontaine
Director: Mike Flanagan
Writers: Mike Flanagan based on a short story by Stephen King
Stars: Tom Hiddleston, Jacob Tremblay, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Karen Gillan, Mark Hamill, Benjamin Pajak, Mia Sara, Carl Lumbly
Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Rating: R for language
Runtime: 1 hour 46 minutes
Production Companies: Intrepid Pictures, Red Room Pictures, QWGmire, NEON
Platform: In theaters June 6, 2025
Notable Trailers: Him, The Roses, Weapons, Together, Splitsville, A Big Bold Beautiful Journey

What’s up, Streamers! Here’s another bit of counterprogramming from the big budget blockbusters crowding the movie theaters. Mike Flanagan adapts a short story by Stephen King into a heartwarming drama, The Life of Chuck. The movie is split into three acts where the main presence throughout is Chuck Krantz, played by Tom Hiddleston, who is an accountant about to retire after 39 years of great service. Krantz’s retirement is taking place during what seems to be the end times, and a high school teacher, Marty (Chiwetel Ejiofor), is grappling with the big questions of life. Since the movie is told in reverse chronological order, we get to see more of Krantz’s formative years and how they connect to the previous acts. Dance sequences and science fiction hijinks ensue.

Since this movie has both Mike Flanagan and Stephen King as its creative forces, you might expect something fantastical or horrific underlying the story. However, this movie is more like Stephen King’s Stand By Me or The Green Mile in its tone. In that way, Mike Flanagan is good at presenting sentimental moments and giving characters emotional depth. Almost every character gets to monologue about the big questions of life and try to convey the sentiment within this story. There is a very comforting tone to this movie even though the first 40 minutes is about the end of the world. That warmth carries throughout the movie. The quaint setting and inviting cinematography enhance that feeling. I’d say the cast really taps into the feeling of the movie without being overly schmaltzy. In particular, Mia Sara and Mark Hamill are standouts as Chuck’s grandparents. Tom Hiddleston gets a showcase sequence even though he doesn’t have much else to do despite essentially being the main character – that’s a bit disappointing considering how front-and-center he is on the poster.

Even though there is a compelling story, warm characters and inviting dialogue, for some reason the emotions fall flat. It feels like the film is revving up to something that doesn’t really come. There are surprises and the movie is engaging, but it peters out. I was expecting to be a bawling mess, but I just wasn’t. Although the movie is called The Life of Chuck, Chuck feels kind of sidelined and that’s a bummer. As you might imagine, there is a clever hook to this Stephen King adaptation, and I wonder if that hook comes too late in the movie to be as impactful as it should be. I’m conflicted.

Ultimately, The Life of Chuck is a heartwarming drama that just falls short of being really impactful. All of the ingredients are present, but it somehow doesn’t come together. Despite the engaging cast and storytelling and production values, it is a bit of a letdown overall especially since Tom Hiddleston doesn’t get much to do. While I wouldn’t rush out to see this in a theater, The Life of Chuck would be a really fine Sunday afternoon stream with the family. Grab a handful of popcorn.