‘The Life List,’ directed by Adam Brooks, was released on March 28 on Netflix and is trending.
It is based on the novel 'The Life List' by Lori Nelson Spielman. This romantic comedy features Sofia Carson as Alex Rose and Kyle Allen as Brad Ackerman. The tension between their characters is undeniable and full of passion.
‘The Life List’ is about a young woman named Alex. She has a passion that was lost after losing her teaching job. She decides to work for her mother, Elizabeth (Connie Britton), and her mother pushes her to follow her passion as her last dying wish.
When her mother passes away, she leaves Alex a box full of CDs. She must complete each obstacle on this list to get a CD recorded by her mother. On her journey, Brad helps her complete the list. He is an estate lawyer who shows Alex the new light of her life. He helps her discover her passion and happiness again.
Highs
This film had the most engaging performances; Carson played Alex perfectly. She showed the emotion of her experiencing her mother passing away. This film was full of emotional depth; losing a parent taught her the truth about life. Carson portrayed Alex in this struggling light, displaying that it should not be wasted. The character development of Alex was done well and captured the journey of self-discovery.
The romantic comedy aspect of this film was a highlight. The comedic banter between Brad and Alex was beautifully done. It showed the tension between the two characters and their deep bond. The love was not portrayed as fast but as a slow burn. The chemistry was undeniable and full of light.
Allen portrayed Brad as expected. He is a charming estate lawyer with a humorous side. He supported Alex’s dreams and pushed her to become her best self. His kindness and caring for her were firm, showing his true feelings. Their connection was deep and beautiful.
The bond between Elizabeth and Alex was strong. This was a mother-daughter relationship that could not be destroyed. They were best friends, and Alex was Elizabeth’s light and only daughter. She wanted more for herself and to show how much she wanted Alex to find her path in life.
The plot was gripping and full of laughs during Alex’s journey. Alex completed each task on the list and captured the audience’s attention. It was entertaining and full of profound messages about grieving a loved one and self-discovery.
The last high point is the development of Alex’s relationship with her older brothers, Lucas (Dario Ladani Sanchez) and Julian (Federico Rodriguez). It was rough at the beginning due to Alex being the favorite child. However, they worked out their differences towards the end, especially Alex and Julian. They shared their thoughts and grief of losing their mother.
Lows
There was one flaw in this film. The main low was understanding why Alex was fired from her last teaching job and why that made her quit her dream altogether. This would’ve added depth to Alex’s character, understanding why she was in this deep hole.
Verdict
‘The Life List’ is worth the watch, considering it is a great romantic comedy. It shows how it can be combined with a profound message about finding light at the end of the tunnel when losing a parent.
Rating: 8.5 out of 10
Mariam Fakhreddine is a film and theater reviewer for The Eastern Echo. She has worked as a news and features reporter for The Echo for two years.
