When I sat down to watch The Life List, I thought I had a pretty decent idea of what I was getting into, and I’ll admit, my ᴀssumptions stemmed from a pretty cynical place. On the surface, the story sounds like its aspirational nature could veer into the saccharine, executed with the one-dimensional sheen that regrettably covers many streaming originals these days. It’s the kind of movie where you can predict its ending almost from the moment you press play.

And yet, while The Life List can’t entirely avoid some shallowness, I found myself quite charmed by it. There’s an inherent coziness within the production that, in a way, made it the perfect movie for a quiet Sunday night. While I’m not entirely sure that it’s one I’ll ever revisit, it has its charms, and I’m certain it will resonate with plenty of viewers. A lot of its success comes down to Sofia Carson, who seems to be quietly becoming one of the streaming service’s most valuable stars after a slew of major Netflix originals, including Purple Hearts and Carry-On.

At the start of The Life List, directed by Adam Brooks, Carson’s Alex is in a rut. She’s given up on her dream job (teaching), she’s with a sweet but deeply immature boyfriend, and she doesn’t seem eager to push herself beyond the comfortable standstill she’s found herself in. Sure, much of this is communicated to us via characters speculating about Alex aloud more than anything else, but it’s clear right from the get-go that this is a woman in need of a push. Unfortunately, it comes with the death of her beloved mother Elizabeth (Connie Britton).

The Life List’s Main Conflict Isn’t Much Of A Conflict

But It Leads To A Compelling Message

Alex expects to get Elizabeth’s company in her will, or at least have the job her mother gave her solidified. Instead, Elizabeth’s attorney, Brad (Kyle Allen), informs Alex that she gets nothing — at first. Elizabeth has left Alex a series of videos, and she’ll only get each installment (as well as her complete inheritance) once she completes her life list, the to-do list she penned when she was 13 years old. Made up of items such as “try stand-up comedy” and “become the best teacher possible,” it’s the kind of ambitious task list only an idealistic kid could come up with.

Alex scoffs at the idea for approximately five minutes, and then she throws herself into the tasks with gusto. Considering she was meant to be in the kind of rut that causes worry and whispers among her loved ones, it’s almost surprising to see how relatively simple it is for Alex to branch out and try new things. The Life List isn’t especially interested in exploring exactly what caused Alex to become stuck in her own life; she didn’t appear to suffer any kind of profound trauma, and even if it was ultimately depression or anxiety, the movie never digs into it meaningfully.

This does somewhat lessen the overall impact of Alex’s journey — if it’s so easy to regain her love of teaching or throw herself into piano lessons, was she really all that stuck to begin with? — but I don’t think it ruins The Life List‘s general message. Coming from someone in her late 20s taking stock of her own life, there’s something quietly profound about considering what kind of life you want to lead and what you need to do to achieve it, and The Life List shows how important it is to take that time to think and enact change.

Sofia Carson & The Rest Of The Cast Elevate The Life List

It’s A Heartwarming Watch

Though the story could easily veer into over-sentimentality, the movie is grounded by Carson’s thoughtful performance. Alex is a well-rounded character with (admittedly minor) flaws and clear aspirations, and Carson portrays her with a strength that only makes her more compelling. While Britton’s performance is largely relegated to the video messages Elizabeth leaves for Alex, she brings her signature maternal warmth to every scene she’s in, which only adds to the overall cozy atmosphere The Life List gives off.

Alex has a couple of potential romantic suitors at play, but it likely won’t be much of a spoiler to say it’s her chemistry with Allen’s Brad that truly gives off sparks. They have a sweet dynamic that unfolds in a believable, earnest way. The Life List doesn’t offer too many surprises or dwell in any unpleasantness for too long, making for a simple and relaxing viewing experience that hits right in the heart.