Why The Life of Chuck is Funnier the Second Time: A Surprising Twist on Stephen King’s Adaptation

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Warning: SPOILERS are ahead for The Life of Chuck.

As a die-hard movie enthusiast, I had the pleasure of witnessing “The Life of Chuck” hit the silver screen last June, gracing us as one of the initial summer releases in the 2025 cinematic calendar. Despite its origins from the macabre mind of Stephen King, the ‘Master of Horror’, and Mike Flanagan, the genius behind “The Haunting of Hill House” and “Haunting of Bly Manor”, this film veers far from the horror genre.

Featuring a stellar ensemble that includes (but certainly doesn’t stop at) Tom Hiddleston, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Karen Gillan, Mark Hamill in his latest Stephen King adaptation, Carl Lumbly, Kate Siegel, and Mia Sara, this movie offers an emotionally charged journey spanning three acts. Upon my initial viewing, I was moved to tears. On a subsequent, unintended watch, I discovered more humor hidden within it.

How I Saw The Life Of Chuck Twice By Accident

Nowadays, it’s rare to accidentally watch a movie twice before its official release due to early screenings. For instance, I received an advanced screener prior to a press conference for the film “The Life of Chuck“. Being familiar with the creative team, I was eager to watch it. By the time Nick Offerman’s narration concluded, I had already used up several tissues. It’s likely that watching it at home was a fortunate turn of events.

On a rainy holiday evening, I stumbled upon watching “The Life of Chuck” for a second time quite unexpectedly. It was during an early screening at Regal Cinemas, where they were offering a $5 Mystery Movie deal on Mondays for upcoming releases without prior disclosure of the title. As I settled down, my mind buzzed with curiosity about what movie it could be. However, as the recognizable opening to “The Life of Chuck” began playing, my speculation quickly vanished!

The first time I saw the film, I absolutely enjoyed it. I didn’t feel any irritation at all, so I eagerly prepared to watch it again. This second viewing, however, stood out because I was watching it with a crowd, and that completely changed my experience.

Why It Was Easier To Laugh Out Loud The Second Time

The Life of Chuck isn’t a comedy per se, but it does have some amusing scenes that became more apparent to me when I was in a crowded theater. As soon as I heard the laughter around me during the interaction between Chiwetel Ejiofor’s character Marty Anderson and David Dastmalchian’s character Josh, I knew I was in for an entertaining journey. The audience erupted in laughter as these two characters joked about Pornhub going down, with Josh expressing his remorse over his wife leaving, Marty attempting to keep the conversation on track, and both men agreeing that the shutdown of Pornhub was one of the most significant losses during the chaos of the world falling apart. (Did you know? The second track from the movie’s official soundtrack by The Newton Brothers is titled “Fuckin Porn Hub.”)

In the theater, everyone was laughing, indicating a lively and amused audience. I felt this was a promising gathering. There were humorous incidents that I hadn’t fully appreciated at first, such as young Chuck (Benjamin Pajak) trying to pry secrets from the nosy Vera (Heather Langenkamp), the witty remarks of Samantha Sloyan’s character from ‘Midnight Mass’, serving as the moderator of the Twirlers and Spinners club, the recurring joke about people not recognizing young Chuck during Act 3, and the initial dance moves of adult Chuck that were later revealed to be intentional.

Eighth-grader Cat, despite being taller than Chuck, found humor in dancing barefoot with him while wearing her heels. This scene was heartwarmingly amusing. The atmosphere was lively, and the five dollars spent on admission were a worthy investment.

The Life Of Chuck Should Be Seen More Than Once

Watching “The Life of Chuck” warrants a rewatch due to its intricate plot, especially for those who are unfamiliar with the characters and their connection to Marty and Felicia (played by Karen Gillan). Hidden hints from Act 1 can be discovered in Act 3 and Act 2 upon revisiting, making it an enjoyable experience. Knowing the end may have made you shed a few tears at the conclusion of Act 3, but it also enhanced your laughter as you were aware of the story’s outcome.

For instance, realizing that Marty and Felicia’s world was one among many in Chuck’s vast universe made the Pornhub joke more impactful for me. The notion that such a minuscule area of his deteriorating mind could still hold some interest in Pornhub is amusing to me. Knowing the reality that his grandparents wanted him to stay unaware made Chuck trying to get information out of Vera even funnier, although it’s quite dark humor.

In a second glance, numerous minor aspects seemed funnier due to understanding the complexities within his multifaceted character. For instance, the discussion between Marty and Gus (Matthew Lillard) about the approaching end of the world, which on rewatching turned out to be less apocalyptic, added some humor when I realized they weren’t actually facing an end-of-the-world scenario, but instead shaping “The Life of Chuck” into a tale more fitting with Stephen King’s typical style.

It Was Also Sadder The Second Time

Previously hinted at multiple times, watching The Life of Chuck for a second time didn’t suddenly make my emotions switch off. I went into the movie completely unspoiled, except for catching a glimpse of the trailer with a star-studded cast during an anniversary screening of Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith in my local theater. The fact that Mike Flanagan and Stephen King were part of the project was all I knew beforehand. Similar to TopMob’s Riley Utley, tears were shed.

Initially, what truly moved me was the finale of the movie, where Chuck stepped into a less eerie locked room (unlike the terrifying red room in Mike Flanagan’s Hill House). On my second viewing, it was during Act 3’s conclusion that affected me most, as Marty and Felicia shared a moment at the end of the world. This time, I was aware that Chuck was dying, which made his peaceful demise amidst the fading stars even more poignantly sad.

This discussion is focused on why View #2 was more humorous rather than sad, not the other way around. The factors that made my Regal outing less enjoyable compared to my streaming session at home also apply to the humor in “The Life of Chuck.” The knowledge that the movie’s events were taking place through Chuck’s memories and the multiple timelines presented added an additional depth to the lighter scenes, making it simpler to laugh as well as to shed tears.

As a movie enthusiast, I can’t help but strongly urge you to catch “The Life of Chuck” not just once, but twice if possible. You might find yourself rewatching it intentionally rather than accidentally like I did, and trust me, the humor becomes even more infectious. The emotional release at the end is amplified too, making each viewing a unique experience. Kudos to Mike Flanagan for such an exceptional piece of work!

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2025-06-28 21:08