‘The Life List’ Review: Netflix’s Heartfelt Drama Feels Too Safe to Truly Soar

REVIEW — The Life List, Netflix’s newest foray into heartfelt storytelling, promises a powerful tale of grief, growth, and rediscovered dreams. Adapted from Lori Nelson Spielman’s bestselling novel, this addition to the collection of Sofia Carson movies on Netflix stars the former Disney Channel alum as Alex, a young woman challenged to fulfill her childhood “bucket list” after the death of her mother.

Directed by Adam Brooks (Definitely, Maybe, French Kiss), the film had the ingredients of a modern coming-of-age story. But despite its emotional premise, The Life List takes few risks and relies too heavily on formulaic plot points, ultimately failing to land its emotional punches.

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A Checklist Movie About a Checklist Life

The story follows Alex Rose (Sofia Carson), a polished career woman in New York City, whose life is upended by the sudden loss of her mother (played by Connie Britton). As part of her mother’s final wish—and a condition for claiming an inheritance—Alex must complete a list of goals she wrote for herself as a child, embarking on a journey of self-discovery.

It’s a promising premise for a family drama centered on the mother-daughter relationship. But rather than diving deep into the nuances of grief, regret, or personal growth, the film coasts on glossy visuals and feel-good montages. Each item on the bucket list becomes a tidy vignette, with predictable outcomes that rarely challenge the audience—or the protagonist.

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Performance Highlights and Casting Challenges

Sofia Carson, making her transition from Disney alum to dramatic lead, gives a technically sound performance but struggles to embody the vulnerability required of Alex’s emotional journey. At 30 years old (Sofia Carson’s age as of 2023), her portrayal feels too controlled, lacking the messiness and rawness that might have made Alex more relatable. Fans looking to learn more about the actress might want to check out a Sofia Carson bio for insight into her background and career trajectory.

In contrast, Connie Britton brings warmth and authenticity to her limited screen time, grounding the story’s emotional stakes. Unfortunately, her impact is undercut by the film’s shift in focus toward romantic subplots and surface-level revelations. The supporting cast, including Sebastian de Souza, Jordi Mollà, Chelsea Frei, and Kyle Allen, do their best with the material but are given little room to develop their characters fully.

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Nostalgia Without the Substance

Visually, The Life List is pleasing—shot in scenic corners of Manhattan and Brooklyn, with a few scenes set in the charming upstate town of Nyack, the film evokes the romantic, aspirational vibe of early 2000s dramedies. But where films like Serendipity or You’ve Got Mail leaned into quirky characters and emotional nuance, The Life List remains too sanitized to make a lasting impression.

There’s charm in the backdrop, in the idea of rediscovering dreams in the city that never sleeps. But without a stronger emotional core, the nostalgia becomes just that—window dressing for a story that fails to fully explore the complexities of family secrets and personal transformation.

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Final Verdict: Pretty, Polished, and Predictable

Netflix’s The Life List wants to be a modern fairytale of healing and transformation. But its aversion to emotional complexity and risk-taking keeps it from being anything more than a mildly entertaining checklist of tropes.

Viewers seeking a soft, safe story about love and second chances may enjoy its simplicity. But for those hoping for a film that truly examines grief, self-worth, or the messy reality of adulthood—the experience falls short. While it may satisfy fans looking for more Sofia Carson movies and TV shows following her success in Purple Hearts, it doesn’t quite reach the emotional depths of her previous work.

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Watch Now:

The Life List is currently streaming exclusively on Netflix, with a March 28 release date. Produced by 3dot Productions and based on the book by Lori Nelson Spielman, this romantic comedy offers a light exploration of rediscovering yourself through childhood dreams. While it may not be the next Purple Hearts 2 (which fans are eagerly awaiting news about), it provides a pleasant, if predictable, addition to Sofia Carson’s growing filmography.