We all have goals in life. For some, it is to graduate college. For others, it may be to find true love or a job after college and to be successful. But the underlying question is “what does that all mean?” That is where Netflix’s new romantic comedy film “The Life List” comes into play. The movie covers all different aspects of life from family drama to figuring out who you are, and my personal favorite part, it is based in the wonderful city of New York.
The movie follows Alex (Sofia Carson) as she travels through New York life after the loss of her mother, but there is a twist. While her siblings were each left with an inheritance from their mother, Alex feels ashamed and left out because she was not included in the will. Consequently, she strives to complete a multitude of tasks from a list that she wrote when she was younger which includes things such as finding true love, connecting with her father and learning to play piano.
I think that before jumping into the themes of the movie, it is important to discuss the setting. Personally, I love New York — the hustle and bustle of the crowds, Times Square, the random street performers and, of course, Broadway shows. This is the perfect setting for this movie because it connects with the ever-changing and fast-moving pace of the movie.
“The Life List” is also a modern-day comedy. The movie very recently came out on Netflix, and throughout its approximately two hours, we see characters using phones and computers, and they even find it funny when a DVD player is mentioned.
One of my biggest focuses in life is family. I am very close to my immediate and extended family, so the big appeal to family life in this movie interested me. Alex does not necessarily get along with her two siblings at the start but learns throughout the movie why it is important that they grieve together rather than alone and talk about the fun times that they had growing up. It gives the movie warmth and the viewer a break from busy New York life.
But that is not the only theme that arises. “The Life List” is also about having a best friend who is going to be in your corner for you to support you even in your darkest moments. “Best friend,” of course, is a very flexible word to use here, seeing as, in Alex’s yearlong life adventure, she meets a bunch of people who support her — from new friends to new lovers. One who stood out was the second main character, Brad (Kyle Allen), the best friend of Alex.
Overall, this movie provides life lessons in a modern lifestyle that should resonate with many.
