A King in the Game of Life

Alright, gather round folks. Imagine a chilly Tuesday evening, right after enjoying some köttbullar and lingonberry jam, I found myself diving into the world of “Life of a King.” You might be curious about CFL bulbs, but trust me, this flick has a way of lighting your way more than those eco-friendly pjäser ever could.

So here we have Cuba Gooding Jr. in the shoes of Eugene Brown. Yes, that’s right! Our very own Cuba, who I last saw sliding on snow in “Snow Dogs.” Here, however, he’s not slipping on ice but rather navigating the rough streets of Washington, D.C. Coach and chess guru Brown takes center stage under the careful hand of Jake Goldberger, the director who mixes the moves with just the right amount of grit and inspiration.

Eugene teaches these young, lost souls the game of chess to show ’em a thing or two about life—well, it’s both as heartwarming and predictable as a tray of freshly baked kanelbullar. But, he does it with a kind of warmth that could even melt the ice off Västerbotten in January.

I must admit, some scenes feel like they’re trying to sell Arvidsjaur to an Eskimo. Drama oversaturated with inspiration. But then, there’s a genuineness, an unpolished honesty that cuts through any overused tricks. It left me thinking about that time my farfar showed me the ropes of schack in his cozy stuga. Don’t ask me how often I lost to him, but hey, every game was a lesson.

Sure, “Life of a King” may not reshape the cinematic horizons, but it has a charm about it. It’s the kind of film that gets you to maybe pull out that dusty chessboard. So, give it a go. Who knows, you might even end up making your own move in this game called life. Det är en film som värmer i vinterkylan.

Check the trailer below