The Life List, which premieres on March 28, will give you the push you need. The new film stars Sofia Carson (Purple Hearts, Carry-On) as Alex Rose, a young woman caught at a crossroads who sets out to complete a "life list" she wrote as a teenager.
Director: Adam Brooks
Writers: Adam Brooks, Lori Nelson Spielman
Stars: Sofia Carson, Kyle Allen, Sebastian De Souza
From writer-director Adam Brooks (Definitely, Maybe; Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason), this romantic comedy stars Carson as Alex Rose, a young woman at a crossroads following the death of her beloved mother, Elizabeth (Connie Britton). While meeting with her mother's lawyer to sort through her affairs, Alex is stunned to learn that Elizabeth has left her an unusual message. In a pre-recorded video, Elizabeth explains that Alex must complete a bucket list from her childhood before she can receive her inheritance. This "life list," which Alex compiled at age 13, includes goals like performing stand-up comedy, reconciling with her father, and finding true love.
While "The Life List" isn't short on captivating love interests, including the aforementioned lawyer, Alex's deep bond with her late mother forms the emotional core of the film. Exploring that close mother-daughter relationship was part of what drew Carson to the role.
"I think one of the reasons Adam and I connected so deeply was my relationship with my mother," Carson tells EW. "He felt it really reflected the relationship between Alex and Elizabeth." In fact, it was Carson's mother who sent her the script, which the star describes as "one of the most human scripts I've ever had the privilege of reading." She adds, "I connected with Alex instantly. Alex is like all of us at some point in our lives, and the journey she takes is so beautiful and meaningful; so simple, yet so powerful."
When Alex Rose's mother—played by TV's favorite mom, Connie Britton—sends her to complete her childhood bucket list, she embarks on a journey where she uncovers family secrets, finds love, and learns more about herself with the support of her brothers (Dario Ladani Sanchez, Federico Rodriguez), her lawyer-turned-ally (Kyle Allen), and a group of friends.
The list takes her into uncharted territory: an open mic night at a comedy club, leading a class at a women's shelter, a glamorous charity event, playing one-on-one basketball, and then back to where she started: her childhood home. "Alex Rose is me, she is you, she is all of us," Carson tells Tudum. Sometimes alive, yet lifeless. It reconnects us with the dreamer we left behind, fearlessly holding her hand as she bravely walks through life.
With New York City as its backdrop, the film presents a fresh perspective on the beloved genre—at times unexpected, poignant, and relatable. "Alex Rose awakens us to life," Carson tells Tudum. "The Life List is a portrait of life. Overcoming loss with tears in your eyes, a smile on your face, wit on your lips, as you learn to live again."
The Life List is both a moving coming-of-age story and a compelling romance, with its authentic and complex characters and universal premise: we all have dreams we've put on hold. For Allen, who plays Alex's love interest, Brad, the story immediately resonated: "When I received the script, I cried, and that's always a good sign," Allen told Netflix. The film is like, "I'm going to talk about life in direct relation to death, and I'm going to guide people through it in a really beautiful and constructive way that leaves everyone happier and more fulfilled for what happened."
At the heart of the story is the bond between Alex and her mother, Elizabeth, who drives Alex to take charge of her life and rediscover herself. "It's a very accessible and really entertaining way to take stock of your own life and what your dreams, goals, and desires are," Britton tells Tudum. "They're pretty daring ideas, and you don't want to be pushed on your head. That's what good storytelling is all about: immersing yourself in the lives of these great characters, following their paths, and also reflecting on your own."
Brooks, for whom The Life List took a decade to produce, strove to extract the film's authenticity. "It's a story of reinvention that I hope resonates with people, about those pivotal moments when you have to evaluate who you are and ask yourself if you're really living an authentic life," says the veteran writer-director.
Producer Liza Chasin, who has worked with Brooks for three decades, knew from the start the impact The Life List would have. The morning after reading the script, "I called Adam and said, 'I'm telling you right now: I'm making this movie. I don't know what the obstacles will be, but I love it,'" the producer tells Tudum. "We were unstoppable because we all felt it was a deep, emotional, and relatable story, and we hope that when people see The Life List, they feel the same."
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