Sofia Carson
Alex Rose
The Life List
“For everyone who's still figuring it out.”
2025
2h 3m
Director: Adam Brooks
Overview
When her mother sends her on a quest to complete a teenage bucket list, a young woman uncovers family secrets, finds romance — and rediscovers herself.
Cast
12 people
Reviews
6 min readThe Bucket List That Broke Us
I didn’t expect a Netflix rom-com to leave me staring at my own half-finished to-do list, but here we are. The Life List is the kind of film that sneaks up on you—not with twists or shocks, but with the quiet, unsettling realization that you, too, might be sleepwalking through your own life. It’s a movie that wants to be both a balm and a wake-up call, and for the most part, it succeeds. But like the best intentions, it’s also messy, uneven, and occasionally too afraid of its own shadow.
Adam Brooks, the writer-director behind Bridget Jones’s Diary and Definitely, Maybe, has spent over a decade adapting Lori Nelson Spielman’s 2013 novel, and you can feel the weight of that gestation in every frame. This isn’t just another rom-com; it’s a film that’s been simmering, evolving alongside its creator’s own life. Brooks has spoken about how his experiences with loss and watching his children navigate their twenties deepened the project, and that personal investment shows.
The result is a story that feels lived-in, even when it stumbles over its own tropes.
At its core, The Life List is about Alex (Sofia Carson), a 28-year-old woman who’s spent her adult life checking boxes—college, career, engagement—only to realize she’s built a life that feels borrowed, not chosen. When her mother, Elizabeth (Connie Britton), dies unexpectedly, Alex inherits a childhood bucket list, a series of tasks she’d written at 12 years old. Completing them isn’t just a tribute; it’s a lifeline, a way to reconnect with the person she used to be before the world told her who she should become.
The catch? Each task comes with a pre-recorded DVD message from her mother, a ghostly voice guiding her through the past like a GPS for the soul.
This narrative device is the film’s greatest strength and its most frustrating limitation. The DVD messages are a clever way to keep Elizabeth’s presence alive, but they also feel like a crutch, a way to avoid the harder work of showing, not telling. There’s a scene early on where Alex watches one of these messages in her childhood bedroom, the camera lingering on her face as her mother’s voice fills the room.
It’s a simple moment, but it’s also the first time the film truly breathes. The rest of the time, though, the messages feel like a shortcut, a way to skip the messy, unscripted conversations that might have made Elizabeth feel like more than a plot device.
Audience Opinions
Audience 6.5/10
"A charming but uneven romantic drama with standout moments that struggle to outweigh its clichéd plot."
Sofia Carson and Kyle Allen’s chemistry is a bright spot, making their characters’ journey engaging despite the film’s reliance on familiar romance tropes. latestnetflix.com's view is that the visual style and emotional beats resonate with some viewers, but the predictable storyline and underdeveloped side characters leave others wanting more depth.
What viewers praise
- Strong lead chemistry Carson and Allen’s dynamic carries the film, making their romantic and emotional moments feel authentic.
- Visually appealing The film’s aesthetic and cinematography are frequently praised for adding a polished, engaging layer to the story.
- Heartfelt moments Some scenes resonate emotionally, particularly those focusing on personal growth and relationships.
Common complaints
- Predictable plot The storyline follows well-worn romance tropes, leaving little room for surprises or originality.
- Underdeveloped side characters Supporting roles, including Connie Britton’s, feel thin and lack the depth needed to fully support the narrative.
- Uneven pacing Some viewers find the film’s rhythm inconsistent, with certain scenes dragging or feeling rushed.
Recommended for
Romantic drama enthusiasts Sofia Carson fans Lighthearted relationship stories Visually driven films
Full Plot (Spoilers)
Spoiler warning
This section contains the full plot, including major story reveals. Overview above stays spoiler-free.
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsNetflix’s The Life List Sparks Real-Life Breakups Before Release
Netflix’s upcoming rom-com The Life List is already making waves—though not just for its star-studded cast or heartwarming premise. According to reports, the film has inadvertently become a relationship litmus test, with Sofia Carson revealing that several couples called it quits after watching early screenings. latestnetflix.com's take is that the movie, based on Lori Nelson Spielman’s 2013 novel, follows Alex (Carson), a woman who revisits her childhood bucket list, only to find that chasing those dreams leads her down an unexpected path—one that apparently hits closer to home for some viewers than anticipated 
.
From Page to Screen: A Long-Awaited Adaptation
The Life List marks a rare directorial outing for Adam Brooks, best known for writing Bridget Jones’s Diary and Definitely, Maybe. The film adapts Spielman’s novel, which spent weeks on bestseller lists over a decade ago, making its transition to screen a long-awaited one. Brooks not only directed but also penned the screenplay, a dual role that suggests a deep personal investment in the project .
The cast is stacked with rising and established talent. Sofia Carson, fresh off her role in Purple Hearts, leads as Alex, while Kyle Allen (The Greatest Showman, Rosaline) plays her love interest. Connie Britton (Friday Night Lights, Nashville) and Jordi Mollà (Bad Boys II) round out the supporting roles, adding star power to the Netflix original. The film dropped on March 28, 2025, with little fanfare ahead of its release, but early buzz suggests it’s poised to become a sleeper hit 
.
**The Breakup Effect: Why The Life List Hits Hard**
Carson’s revelation about the film’s unintended consequences is the most intriguing piece of gossip surrounding The Life List. In an interview with Digital Spy, she hinted that the movie’s themes—self-discovery, missed opportunities, and reevaluating life goals—resonated so deeply with some viewers that it forced them to confront their own relationships. While she didn’t specify how many couples split or what exactly in the film triggered these breakups, the implication is clear: The Life List isn’t just a lighthearted rom-com. It’s a mirror .
The novel’s premise already lent itself to introspection. Alex’s journey to fulfill her childhood bucket list—written at age 12—becomes a catalyst for her to question whether she’s truly living the life she wants. The film’s tone, described as a blend of romantic comedy and drama, likely amplifies that emotional weight. If early reactions are any indication, audiences aren’t just laughing; they’re reflecting .
Behind the Scenes: What We Know (and What We Don’t)
Details about the production are scarce, but a few key points stand out:
- Adaptation Challenges: Brooks’ decision to adapt Spielman’s novel suggests he saw potential in its mix of humor and heartache. However, condensing a book’s worth of introspection into a 90- to 120-minute film is no small feat. Whether the movie captures the novel’s depth remains to be seen .
- Cast Chemistry: Carson and Allen have both starred in recent rom-coms (Purple Hearts and Rosaline, respectively), but their pairing in The Life List is untested. Early trailers hint at a playful dynamic, but the real test will be whether their chemistry feels organic or forced .
- Netflix’s Gamble: The streaming giant has had mixed success with rom-coms in recent years, from The Kissing Booth franchise to Love Hard. The Life List’s premise is familiar, but its emotional hook could set it apart—if Netflix markets it right .
The Verdict: A Rom-Com with Bite?
The Life List arrives at a time when audiences are craving escapism but also hungry for stories that feel authentic. The fact that it’s already prompting real-life breakups—whether due to its romantic subplots or its existential themes—suggests it’s hitting a nerve. Whether that translates to critical acclaim or just viral buzz remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: this isn’t your average Netflix rom-com.
For now, the biggest question isn’t whether The Life List will be a hit, but how many more relationships it might upend before the credits roll.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.
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