Written by Marina Coates
While Adam Brooks’ The Life List sets itself up as an inspiring journey of self-discovery, it often leans too heavily on rom-com clichés rather than fully exploring its main character Alex’s emotional growth. On the brightside, the film harkens back to Bridget Jones’s Diary and Definitely, Maybe in a delightfully nostalgic way.
Alex Rose (Sofia Carson) has gradually started to settle for what’s safe, rather than chasing her dreams. She’s left her dream job as a teacher and lives with her longterm, lazy boyfriend Finn (Michael Rowland) more out of necessity and financial stability than love. Sh’’s surrounded by her brothers Lucas (Dario Ladani Sanchez) and Julian (Federico Rodriguez) who have great marriages, kids, and jobs — all things she feels are distant realities for her life.
When her mom, Elizabeth (Connie Britton), passes away from cancer, Alex is shocked to learn she can’t get her inheritance (or whatever her mom has decided to leave her with) until she completes a list of 12 things she wrote down for herself when she was 13. Alex isn’t thrilled about the ways her mom is upending her life from beyond the grave, but she takes the bait — because in her words, “I’m single, unemployed, and like crossing things off a list.”
At two hours, The Life List starts to drag as Alex systematically checks off items from the list. While these tasks are meant to show her personal growth, the film leans too heavily on minor subplots (mainly aimed at showing the audience how much Alex is learning to thrive in this new life she’s creating), diluting the emotional depth of her journey. As Elizabeth says, “Life is beautiful and messy and complicated,” but Alex’s struggles often feel too neatly resolved. A tighter screenplay would have made her transformation more impactful.
The chemistry between Carson and her co-stars is authentic, and will make you fall in love with the fun-loving, awkwardly quirky Alex. Particularly, Kyle Allen, who plays Ben, the executor of Elizabeth’s will, meshes perfectly with Carson as the two learn to trust each other with their hopes and dreams while simultaneously helping each other grow. The relationships and tension Alex experiences with Finn, Ben, and Garett (Sebastian de Souza) make The Life List a delightfully fun rom-com, despite its hiccups with the plot.
Despite its predictable structure and the occasional lack of depth, The Life List still delivers plenty of charm, thanks to its nostalgic rom-com feel and the genuine chemistry between its cast. Carson brings authenticity and humor to Alex, making her journey enjoyable even when the storytelling feels formulaic. While the film has many ways to improve, it remains a lighthearted, feel-good watch that reminds us of the joys — and challenges — of embracing life’s unpredictability.
