Chuck & Buck (2000)

Chuck & Buck (2000). 1h 36m | R

“Itu0026#39;s very difficult to classify a movie like u0026quot;Chuck u0026amp; Bucku0026quot;. It has elements of a comedy, but is not laugh-out-loud funny and is quite disturbing throughout. It could be a suspense thriller about a stalker, but the story takes on a different angle and shows just how pathetic the said stalker is. Overall, itu0026#39;s a genre-bending film that, while bizarre and creepy in its story and character development, keeps you watching because itu0026#39;s strangely intriguing. The only problem lies in the last 20 minutes, where the actions of the main characters simply donu0026#39;t make any sense.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eBefore the ending, however, youu0026#39;re introduced to Buck (Mike White), a 27-year-old who still lives with his mother. When his mother dies of lung cancer, Buck invites childhood friend Charlie Sitter (Chris Weitz), whom he knew as u0026quot;Chucku0026quot;, to the funeral. It is only through Bucku0026#39;s interactions with Charlie where we learn how much Buck really hasnu0026#39;t grown up. Whereas Charlie has moved on with his life as an up-and-coming record executive who is engaged to beautiful Carlyn (Beth Colt), Buck is clearly in a state of arrested development.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eMike White, who also wrote the screenplay, is heartbreakingly convincing as Buck, and was very brave in playing such a vulnerable role. While we never find out exactly why Buck is so nostalgic for his pre-adolescent years, Whiteu0026#39;s giddiness in seeing his childhood friend speaks volumes. He is very clingy in every manner from the way he hugs Chuck to the way he sucks his Blow Pops, which he does throughout the movie.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe film gets decidedly darker when Buck moves out of his motheru0026#39;s house and to L.A., where Chuck now lives. Itu0026#39;s when Buck stands outside Charlieu0026#39;s place of work where we really feel for Charlie, but Bucku0026#39;s unhealthy obsession with Charlie does not stop there.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThere is one jaw-dropping thing Buck says when he visits Charlie and Carlyn at their home. I wonu0026#39;t give away what he says, but it happens when Carlyn goes to bed, and it involves certain childhood experimentation that Charlie put behind him, but Buck clearly has not. Charlieu0026#39;s reaction to Bucku0026#39;s statement is very understated given the circumstances, but would have motivated this critic to issue a restraining order immediately.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eBuck is by far the most pathetic cinematic stalker since Rupert Pupkin, Robert De Nirou0026#39;s character in u0026quot;The King of Comedyu0026quot; (1983). Both characters are equally motivated by their own delusion and their search for love in all the wrong places. However, Buck is a lot creepier than Rupert Pupkin is, and probably would benefit from intense psychiatric counseling.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIt was interesting how Buck began being active in the local theater across the street from Charlieu0026#39;s office. He befriends Beverly (Lupe Ontiveros), who is unaware of the true autobiographical nature of Bucku0026#39;s play, u0026quot;Hank u0026amp; Franku0026quot;. A subplot like this would have felt out of place in a u0026quot;Cape Fearu0026quot;-like psychological thriller, but feels strangely welcome in an indie film like this one. It still contributes to Bucku0026#39;s unsettling delusion.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIt is the resolution of this story where the film loses its ground, and ends on a very questionable note. The way Charlie ultimately decides to deal with Buck is very much out of left field, and was not so much a cop out as much as unrealistic given the circumstances. The last scene also feels half baked and inconclusive. Maybe it is the audienceu0026#39;s wish for an alternative fate for Buck which leads to this feeling. Up until that point, however, the story was very intriguing and the characters incredibly well-fleshed out. Mike Whiteu0026#39;s writing has always been quirky and weird, but it is always original and full of characters you feel for even when you donu0026#39;t agree with them. It just would have been better if such characters reached a better conclusion.”