Like last year’s “The Swearing Jar,” (which also premiered at TIFF), “Chuck Chuck Baby” shines with its music as its backdrop. It’s also an emotional crowd-pleaser that finds its joys in female friendship and relationships. For its music, it’s embedded in the film as it is one of the main escapes for our main character Helen (Louise Brealey).
Helen finds herself in a miserable position where she intensely dislikes her life. She lives with her ex-husband Gary (Celyn Jones), a miserable loaf who’s raising a child with his younger girlfriend, Amy (Emily Fairn). One of the reasons Helen is tethered to this home, and to this town, is her relationship with her dying mother-in-law Gwen (Sorcha Cusack). Their relationship and chemistry is one of the many lovely aspects of the film. They’re both trapped in their situation, confirmed when Gwen playfully wishes Helen would kill her sometimes. Helen replies she would end up in prison. “We’re already in one, love,” says Gwen.
Helen spends her days with Gwen and the night shift with old friends at the titular Chuck Chuck Baby, a chicken processing plant in town. Much of the comic relief is offered by these women, notably a scene-stealing Paula (Beverly Rudd). Life gets a bit more exciting for Helen when an old schoolgirl crush, Joanne (Annabel Scholey), returns to town to set her deceased father’s affairs in order. A slow courtship grows throughout the film and their chemistry is lovely, as the film navigates through joyous highs and very emotional moments.
The music shines
The film’s most joyous moments are helped by the music. This is true during an enchanting opening, as we follow a pappus (dandelion fluff) flying through the air. It travels to Helen’s room to the tune of Lesley Duncan’s “Love Song.” The music choices throughout the film are so strong, where the lyrics fit Helen’s mindset and emotions so well.
Janis Pugh also directs memorable performances from her two stars. She also creates strong character backgrounds. Helen is like fulfilling an old fantasy with this budding romance. Joanne feels the same. We see her history and why relationships prove a bit much for her. In her childhood home, she has a peephole in her bedroom door and bars on her windows, which tell us all we need to know about her upbringing.
Pugh writes and directs these characters so believably, with their differences and similarities. The courtship is patient and lovely, and the film has a lot of heart and comedy. These small British indie comedies really have my heart. They’re fun and they feature great chemistry between stars you may not have seen before. It complements authenticity between the characters, and that’s especially true for this film with its lovely female friendships. The girls went to school together in their youth, and it’s believable that they’ve known each other for a long time. This chemistry shines through best in a musical scene to Renaissance’s “Northern Lights” as they walk home from work. It’s fun moments like these that make “Chuck Chuck Baby” worth seeking out.
