Film: The Life of Chuck

I watched a film, thinking, Meh... It’s a bit of a slog because I don’t understand much at first, and sci-fi isn’t exactly my go-to genre, but there’s time to kill. It starts off well. The power keeps cutting out, and of course, the internet goes with it. People talk about "back when the internet still existed," then the TV dies, and everyone trudges home because there are massive accidents, and frustration is high. I wonder how @almaguer and many others feel, those who live without electricity and all that luxury, or rather, what so many take for granted.

With grumpy faces, they head home, except for one cheerful soul. There’s always that one upbeat person. That’s just character. And of course, even in the worst situations, there’s a silver lining. If there’s no urgency to show up for work on time, if no one can because roads are blocked or collapsed, then you’ve got time for a chat and a proper think about life, what really matters.

And that certainly isn’t work. No one on their last day says, "I’m off to put in a good day’s work!" More likely, you’d spend time with those you cherish, or maybe even seek someone out to make amends.

Why is the world ending? In this film, it’s because someone dies. Someone no one knows, but everyone sees huge billboards that say: "Thanks for the .X years." It makes you think of someone retiring after decades at some company. Whether there’s a golden handshake (a financial bonus) is another question.

I made it through all 111 minutes and got to know Chuck. The more I watched, the deeper into his past I went, the better it got. The absolute best part? The way he could dance (and why on earth did he have such a dull job?). Chuck found love, the love of his life (nice to know), and uncovered the secret hidden behind a locked door in his grandparents’ house. The brain tumour won in the end, but he did dance, at the most unexpected moment. He had no idea why he stopped when he heard a girl drumming (not very energetically) in the square, then spontaneously started dancing (a joy to watch) and even invited a bystander to join him. The unconscious knows how, or what. Call it instinct. Who knows, life might look a lot brighter if we paused more often to listen, spontaneously dropped our bags, and danced, regardless of what others might say. It’d definitely cut down on stress and that nagging feeling of having wasted your life.

Is Life of Chuck worth watching? I’d say yes, unless you hate dancing. It’s not a dance film, though, but a story with a message. One that the teacher, who couldn’t keep order, shared with Chuck...

_{Film: Life of Chuck
Date of release: 2024
Director: Mike Flanagan
Genre: fantasy drama
Based on book Stephen King - If It Bleeds
Where to watch: Fmovies (free)}