Director: Adam Brooks

Starring: Sofia Carson, Kyle Allen, and Connie Britton

Try stand-up comedy, make up with dad, get a tattoo and find true love—all before the new year? What if your bucket list had a clock on it? “The Life List” is a heartwarming dramedy about finding yourself. Directed by Adam Brooks, the story follows Alex (Sofia Carson), a witty but lost teacher, as she works through a list of goals she made a long time ago. Overall, “The Life List” is best described as a cute movie to watch with your mom.

An extremely drastic life change prompts Alex to finish her old bucket list. Working through the list forces Alex to take a good, hard look at her current situation and the choices that led her there. She is confronted with the uncomfortable truth that the person she has become may not be the person she once hoped to become. She faces struggles like heavy expectations and fear of change in an incredibly relatable way. Crossing items off her list becomes a way for her to rediscover joy, mend broken relationships, and push past the boundaries she had built around herself. At its core, this is a story of self-reflection, rediscovery, and second chances.

There were many aspects of the movie I really enjoyed. I love Alex’s bond with her brothers, Julian (Federico Rodriguez) and Garrett (Sebastian de Souza), who are major characters in the film. Their relationship felt realistic and gave the movie much-needed emotional depth. We got to see a deep look into their feelings and lives through their many interactions with Alex throughout the movie. That said, I felt Rodriguez’s acting was almost flat. The way he delivered some of the emotional scenes left much to be desired, given that he had such a major role in the film.

Another surprise was Connie Britton’s role as Alex’s mom. I have seen Britton in other roles, and she was great, but this role was not her best. She plays a pivotal character in the movie, given her close relationship with Alex and its significance to the plot. Her impact on the film’s emotion could have been much greater if the acting had been more fluid.

One of the highlights of the film is the way it connects multiple plot lines. There are so many things going on in Alex’s life, like her list, her family, her love life, and her internal battles with who she is, and instead of feeling overwhelming, it made the story feel richer and more interesting. Each subplot adds to Alex’s growth in a different way, making her journey feel layered and real.

However, the love story was far less enjoyable. It felt slightly rushed and just kind of weird. It felt forced, almost as if it were randomly thrown in because the story requires romance.

A major flaw with the film was its immense predictability. I knew what was going to happen within the first 20 minutes. I can’t say I didn’t shed a tear watching it. In fact, that happened multiple times. Despite the predictable storyline, I laughed, cried, cringed and closed my laptop satisfied.

Visually, the movie was cute and comforting. It felt like a sweet film for a Saturday at home under the blanket. The cozy settings matched the emotion of the movie, which truly helped portray this family.

“The Life List” is a lovely movie about courage, growth, and rediscovering the joy in simply living. It’s about taking risks, forgiving yourself, and believing it’s never too late to change and grow. The film would be perfect for fans of feel-good dramas, coming-of-age stories, or anyone who enjoys a movie that makes you laugh and cry in the same sitting. Overall, I would give it 4 out of 5 stars. Even though it was predictable and some performances didn’t sit right with me, it was still a sweet, emotional story that left me smiling.