Aahana Swrup
‘The Life List’ is a comedy-drama film about a woman in her 30s who finds herself on a journey to fulfill her to-do list as a stipulation to earn her inheritance. Alexandra “Alex” Rose (Sofia Carson) has life all figured out, with a comfortable job in the family business and a well-to-do, if off-beat boyfriend. However, she seems to have given up on many of the true passions of her life. For the same reason, when her beloved mother, Elizabeth (Connie Britton), passes, she leaves her with her teenage bucket list in lieu of an outright inheritance. Earning a DVD for every task completed, the woman must cross off the life goals she came up with when she was thirteen in order to unlock her final bequeathment. Thus, as she embarks on this life-changing journey, with some surprising help from Brad (Kyle Allen), the executor of her mother’s will, Alex finds herself on a whirlwind path of self-actualization.
The Life List is a Love Letter to Coming-of-Age in Your 30s
Based on Lori Nelson Spielman’s eponymous 2013 novel ‘The Life List’ finds its footing with an interesting premise. In a family of successful individuals, Alex Rose is still aimlessly lost while in her 30s. She’s in a fun but ultimately dead-end relationship and works for her mother since her own dreams of becoming a teacher have long been derailed. She’s surrounded by an endless cloud of pessimism and gloom—something that is all too obvious to her mother, Elizabeth, who retains a special connection with her only daughter. Therefore, in her absence, Elizabeth plans on doling out some much-needed puppeteering to get her daughter’s life back on track.
In the matriarch’s death, while the rest of the Rose clan receives an emotional and valuable inheritance, Alex inherits a labyrinthine task to complete her 13-year-old self’s “Life List.” The plan also introduces the kind Brad Ackerman into the protagonist’s life, setting them up for an intriguing and automatically long-standing dynamic. Initially, Alex’s reaction of crotchety disbelief remains apt given the absurd ordeal. Nonetheless, she soon agrees to play along due to a number of motivating factors. Thus, the dimensions of her character begin to sharpen, offering moments of sincerity and vulnerability for every other snippy comment.
Likewise, the characters around Alex also come to life, bringing complexities and novelties to her narrative. Initially, each new addition—from distant father Samuel, perfect brothers Julian and Lucas, the flawless Nina, and charming boyfriend Garrett—feel too archetypical and stuck in their caricatures. Nonetheless, as Alex grows and matures in her journey, the nuances of these characters emerge, bringing a satisfying and well-rounded feel to them. Consequently, the slow burn of each relationship—platonic or romantic—and the unraveling of each interpersonal connection leave a mark on the story. Ultimately, this grounded and mundane aspect of Alex’s journey of reinvention earns the tale its subtle profundities.
The Life List’s Compelling Familial Relationships Overshadows the Romance
Even though ‘The Life List’ seamlessly wears the romcom tag, its true strength lies within its core identity as a feel-good tale about self-discovery. There’s no doubt that Alex and Elizabeth’s strong bond remains at the center of the narrative, as the mother roots for her daughter even from beyond the grave, encouraging her to become her best possible self. This quest to take charge of her life compels Alex to engage with and evaluate a number of relationships, including the ones she has with her brothers and her father. On the other hand, the budding romance between Alex and Garrett (Sebastian de Souza) also ends up playing a prominent role, showcasing the pitfalls of a relationship that is perfect on paper but lacks a crucial spark.
Therefore, the chemistry between Sofia Carson and the rest of the cast becomes the glue that holds everything together. The actress hits all the right beats, infusing her character with sharp wit and open sensitivity as necessary. She’s open-hearted but still guarded around Sebastian De Souza and his effortless charm as Garrett. Her easy back-and-forth with Kyle Allen, who plays the role of an adorable, infinitely helpful love interest to the T, cushions up the characters and makes their rather predictable fates all the more enjoyable. Her performance presents Alex’s emotions as an open wound around Connie Britton, who delivers her role of a flawed but caring mother with grace.
As such, the gravity of the dynamics and connections in the protagonist’s life define her self-improvement venture in significant ways. The depiction of the relationship she has with Lucas and Julian—never perfect, but messy in the most relatable of ways—remains a particular highlight of the film. Perhaps for the same reason, these instrumental connections end up casting a shadow over the central romance in some ways. Yet, the same doesn’t necessarily have to be a drawback. Alex and Brad retain an excellent chemistry that allows the pair to build a firm friendship as their foundation. Thus, their romance becomes the perfect final cross-off for the protagonist’s monumental list.
Rating: 3/5
Read More: Where was Netflix’s The Life List Filmed?
