The Life List Review: A Predictable Journey

The Life List aims for heartfelt emotion but struggles with predictability and forced sentimentality, making for an uninspired journey.

Along the way, she unearths long-buried family secrets, tries to find love, and learns life lessons. It’s the kind of story designed to be uplifting and bittersweet, but instead, it plays out exactly as you’d expect, hitting predictable beats with little to no impact.

From the start, The Life List struggles to stand out in a crowded genre. The film opens with a baby shower, a setting that should feel warm and lively but instead comes across as stilted, awkward and fake. The character interactions feel forced, as if the actors were still getting used to each other, and the humor, which is intended to bring some lightness to the scene, falls flat. This sense of artificiality lingers throughout much of the movie, making it difficult to fully invest in Alex’s journey.

Sofia Carson does her best with the material, bringing a certain charm to Alex, but the script doesn’t give her much depth beyond the standard beats of a woman on a path to self-discovery. She’s grieving, searching for meaning, and reconnecting with her past, but the film rarely allows these emotions to develop naturally. Instead, it telegraphs its biggest moments from miles away. There’s little surprise in the way events unfold,every plot point feels inevitable, every emotional revelation predictable. While some might argue this is the film’s intention, following a well-worn path of comfort and sentimentality, it ultimately leaves little room for genuine engagement.

One of the biggest issues is how The Life List tries to manipulate the audience’s emotions rather than earn them. Scenes that are clearly designed to be tearjerkers, particularly those involving Alex’s mother, feel so orchestrated that they lose their emotional weight. The film doesn’t trust the audience to feel on their own; instead, it insists on telling them exactly when and how to react. It’s not that the story lacks emotional depth; it’s that it’s too obvious in how it presents it. Moments that should resonate on a deeply personal level end up feeling hollow because the film works too hard to tug at heartstrings instead of letting the emotions arise naturally.

That said, The Life List does tap into themes that will resonate with many viewers, particularly those who have lost a parent to cancer. The journey of grief and the desire to reconnect with one’s past is compelling, even if the execution is lacking. The film’s core message – that life doesn’t always go as planned but can still be meaningful – is a comforting one, even if it’s delivered with all the subtlety of a greeting card.

Despite its flaws, there are a few bright spots. Carson has a likable screen presence, and Kyle Allen, who plays Brad, brings a certain charm to his role. Connie Britton, as Alex’s mother, gives a performance that feels the most grounded, even if the material doesn’t always support her talents. However, none of this is enough to elevate the film beyond its formulaic nature.

In the end, The Life List is exactly what it appears to be: a sentimental, by-the-numbers drama that never truly surprises or challenges its audience. While some will discover comfort in its familiarity, others may find themselves detached, unable to fully invest in a story that feels more like a checklist than a lived experience. I feel like such a cynic while writing this; I genuinely wanted to like it, but I just couldn’t. It’s not the worst film of its kind, but it’s also far from memorable.

The Life List is now available to stream globally on Netflix.