Approaching the end, with deliberate steps

STORIES ABOUT THE MEANING OF LIFE TEND to work at cross-purposes with the job of actually living it, particularly when they pedal hard to activate the tear ducts.

- STEPHANIE ZACHAREK

Ejiofor and Karen Gillan: together at the end of the world

Mike Flanagan’s science-fiction life-affirmer The Life of Chuck—adapted from a Stephen King novella—is an ambitious little film that has already earned some laurels: it was an audience favorite at last year’s Toronto International Film Festival, winning the People’s Choice Award. Thanks to a few key moments, and the strength of its actors, it’s easy to see why audiences would warm to the film. But if you’re immune to its charms, you won't be alone. From its cute-fake soundstage-town setting to the authoritative yet chummy voice-over narration (courtesy of Nick Offerman), The Life of Chuck works doggedly to give you the warm fuzzies—and a little bit of that fuzz goes a long way.