The Life List star Sofia Carson has revealed that the upcoming film led to several couples breaking up.
The Netflix rom-com, which is based on Lori Nelson Spielman’s 2013 novel, follows Alex (Carson), a young woman left reeling following the death of her mother. After revisiting her childhood aspirations, Alex goes on an “unforeseen and surprising journey.”
After ticking off items from ‘the life list’, Alex is left with one final task: finding true love. As the character initially finds the challenge a tricky one, Alex refers to a checklist for potential suitors, with important qualities being kindness and the ability to bring the best out of others.
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Though the list is initially meant for Alex, Carson revealed to Entertainment Weekly that the lessons affected test audiences, sharing that several viewers ended up making bold life decisions as a result of the film.
“[Writer-director] Adam [Brooks] would call me all the time after test screenings, and he would say that there were so many people that would [tell him], ‘I ended up breaking up with my boyfriend,’ or 'I ended up changing or quitting my job,’” recalled Carson.
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“[The Life List raises] all these existential questions. That's the beauty of this film. It's so much more than a rom-com. I think so many of us, including myself, tend to forget the little girl that was a fearless dreamer.
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“This movie took me back to her in so many ways. I left that set a different Sofia that I think little Sofia would be so deeply proud of. I've been writing my own 'life list' recently, and it was beautiful to see a few of the things that I dreamt of have come true.
Carson, who has also starred in Purple Hearts and Carry-On, is joined in the cast by Connie Britton and Kyle Allen, with the pair playing Alex’s late mother and love interest, Brad, respectively.
The Life List streams on Netflix from March 28.
Reporter, Digital Spy George is a freelance writer who specialises in Movies and TV. After graduating with a degree in Film Studies and Journalism from De Montfort University, in which he analysed the early works of Richard Linklater for his dissertation, he wrote for several websites for GRV Media. His film tastes vary from blockbusters like Mission: Impossible and John Wick to international directors such as Paolo Sorrentino and Hirokazu Kore-eda, and has attended both the London and Berlin film festivals.
