In a stunning new short film, Chance the Rapper shows off his acting chops and becomes yet another rap star to transition into acting as a dual profession. In a short film entitled “Mr. Happy,” Chance portrays a suicidal young man who finds that the key to his own salvation is also his demise.

With his newest record, Surf now behind him after an initial free release, Chance the Rapper has been gaining a bit of notoriety around the industry for his lyrical abilities. Now, in a new short film, Chance the Rapper has elected to broadcast his acting abilities, and the result is phenomenal. Chance plays a character called Victor who, as we see from the very beginning of the film, is suicidal. While the elements that make him suicidal are sparsely detailed in brief snippets throughout the film, we never quite see a “breaking point,” which makes it a touch difficult to figure out why Victor is so suicidal.

Victor peruses the internet for answers after many failed attempts to off himself, eventually coming upon a site simply called, “Mr. Happy.” Using a credit card that is almost conjured out of the ether, Victor places a death order on himself. Throughout the film, we see Victor gradually regretting his decision to place the order. A newfound positive force enters into his life at just the right moment, and it causes Victor to re-evaluate, culminating in a not so unpredictable climax.

Chance the Rapper’s portrayal of Victor is at once bleak, painful, and beautiful in many ways. He transitions from a guy that’s socially awkward and nervous into a new man that finds peace within himself. Chance brilliantly performs when Victor begins to “see” his hitman around nearly every corner on the street, the paranoia getting the better of him at times. Running a little over twenty minutes in length, the “Mr. Happy” video shows what it’s like to feel as though you have nothing to live for, and what it feels like when you finally find something. Chance the Rapper in particular delivers a spectacular performance that gives the short film a continuity that one would normally find in a full-length feature.

Be sure to check out the film just below the article here.