You’re feeling cozy. Glass of wine in hand. You don’t need a movie that challenges you, just something entertaining that allows for the occasional IG scroll without missing anything noteworthy. That’s exactly what Netflix’s newest dramedy, The Life List, delivers. Based on a bestseller by Lori Nelson Spielman and directed by Adam Brooks, The Life List feels like a predictable Hallmark movie where you know exactly what you’re signing up for the instant you hit play. But here’s the thing about these types of comfort food films—sometimes, it’s exactly what you need, even when you can see the ending from a mile away.
Sofia Carson plays Alex, a twentysomething whose life could be best described as existing rather than living. She’s dating a record store guy with vague aspirations of developing a video game, she’s abandoned her love of teaching, and she’s working for her mom, Elizabeth (Connie Britton), in a job she has no real passion for.
When her mom passes away, Alex expects to inherit control of the company (or, at the very least, keep her marketing role). Instead, she gets fired, and her inheritance comes with strings attached: she must complete a list of life goals she wrote when she was 13. Each time Alex crosses something off her list, she gets rewarded with another DVD message her mom made before she died. My Millennial heart absolutely ate this up.
The list, which she has a year to complete, ranges from learning “Claire de Lune” on the piano and becoming a teacher to getting a tattoo and, of course, finding true love. Conveniently, two young and good-looking men enter her life right on cue: Brad (Kyle Allen)—the attorney overseeing Elizabeth’s estate—and Garrett (Sebastian De Souza)—whom she meets through her new teaching gig.
For someone supposedly stuck in such a deep rut, Alex jumps into these challenges with ease, which makes the whole thing feel less believable. This quick flip of a switch somewhat undermines what could have been a more meaningful journey of rediscovering abandoned passions. Still, there’s something touching about the idea of reconnecting with your younger self and revisiting the things that once brought you joy.
For a movie that centers around loss, the emotional beats are in short supply. For instance, when Elizabeth tells Alex her cancer has returned, and in the aftermath of her death, there’s a surprising emptiness and no real raw emotion. I’m someone who easily tears up (happy or sad), and I found myself strangely unmoved for much of the film. We’re repeatedly told how close this mother-daughter duo was, yet Alex’s grief feels more like a plot necessity than a lived experience. Instead of exploring the messy reality of processing loss while finding yourself, the movie seems more interested in checking items off of Alex’s (too long) list. It’s this emotional thinness that prevents The Life List from being more than just another piece of algorithm-friendly content from Netflix.
Despite its shortcomings, Connie Britton’s video messages from beyond the grave work really well. These moments bring some much-needed warmth and charm to the story. Britton delivers life lessons with such genuine maternal affection that you can almost forgive the film’s more mechanical aspects. And, as I said earlier, the film never pretends to be something it’s not. It knows it’s a cozy, predictable comfort watch, and it leans into that. Carson does what she can with the material and brings a likable quality to Alex that makes her enjoyable to watch.
The transition from completing silly tasks like jumping into a mosh pit to more serious goals like reconnecting with her estranged father allows the film to sneak in some more genuine moments when you least expect them. Yes, Alex’s problems get resolved a bit too neatly. Yes, her character growth happens ridiculously fast. And yes, coincidences pile up with alarming convenience. But in its best moments, the film says something beautiful about the way we honor those we’ve lost by living our best lives.
Is The Life List revolutionary cinema? Of course not. Will it leave you emotionally wrecked? Unfortunately, no. But it goes down easily, and there are plenty of touching and fun moments sprinkled throughout. I can see a lot of people enjoying this film for exactly what it is—a pleasant distraction with an attractive cast and just enough heart to keep you watching. Sometimes, you just need an enjoyable watch that doesn’t ask too much of you. And The Life List will give you just that.
The Life List is currently available to stream on Netflix.
Is The Life List revolutionary cinema? Of course not. Will it leave you emotionally wrecked? Unfortunately, no. But it goes down easily, and there are plenty of touching and fun moments sprinkled throughout. I can see a lot of people enjoying this film for exactly what it is—a pleasant distraction with an attractive cast and just enough heart to keep you watching. Sometimes, you just need an enjoyable watch that doesn't ask too much of you. And The Life List will give you just that.
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Either typing away on my keyboard or nose-deep in a good book. Say hi to me on Twitter @Kkantro.
