Cast of The Life List: Sofia Carson, Kyle Allen & Full List

Netflix’s The Life List proves that Sofia Carson can carry genuine emotional weight beyond her Disney roots — the film pairs her with Kyle Allen for a bucket-list romantic drama that honors its 2013 source novel while carving out its own identity on the streaming platform.

Lead Actress: Sofia Carson as Alex Rose ·
Director: Adam Brooks ·
Key Co-Stars: Kyle Allen, Sebastian De Souza, Connie Britton ·
Release Year: 2025 ·
Platform: Netflix

What is the plot of The Life List?

The Life List centers on Alexandra “Alex” Rose, a young woman whose world shifts when her mother Elizabeth receives a terminal diagnosis. On her deathbed, Elizabeth hands Alex a childhood bucket list she wrote at fourteen — a collection of dreams and ambitions she never pursued. Rather than letting the list gather dust, Alex commits to completing every item, a decision that leads her across unexpected emotional terrain.

The journey takes Alex from personal aspirations to family revelations. Director Adam Brooks adapted Lori Nelson Spielman’s 2013 novel, which was itself inspired by the author’s own childhood list written at age 14. As Alex works through the list with Brad Ackerman — her mother’s estate executor and a lawyer who accompanies her on this quest — she uncovers secrets about her family, reconnects with estranged relatives, and discovers what she truly wants from her own life.

Main characters and setup

Alex Rose, played by Sofia Carson, begins the film as someone who has put her own desires on hold. Her mother Elizabeth (Connie Britton) appears throughout the film via pre-recorded DVDs, guiding Alex through the list even from beyond. This framing device allows Elizabeth to remain a central presence despite her illness, offering wisdom and gentle challenges as Alex progresses.

Brad Ackerman (Kyle Allen) enters Alex’s life initially as a professional figure — the lawyer handling her mother’s estate. Over time, his role evolves from executor to companion, creating the foundation for the film’s central romance. The dynamic between Alex and Brad forms the emotional core of the narrative, with their relationship developing organically as they tackle the list together.

Key aspirations from the list

While specific list items vary from the source novel, the film’s version emphasizes themes of self-discovery and reconciliation. The list items serve as both literal goals and metaphorical milestones, each one pushing Alex closer to understanding her identity separate from her family obligations. The film received a runtime of 123 minutes, allowing space for character development across multiple list encounters.

Who is in the cast of The Life List?

The Life List brings together a mix of established performers and rising talents. Sofia Carson leads as Alex Rose, supported by Kyle Allen as Brad Ackerman in what becomes the film’s primary romantic arc. The supporting cast includes actors who bring depth to the family drama and the broader emotional journey.

Six entities form the confirmed cast, verified across multiple sources including Wikipedia, ScreenRant, and Cosmopolitan. The ensemble balances romantic comedy sensibilities with the drama of family reconciliation, giving each performer a distinct role in Alex’s transformation.

Sofia Carson as Alex Rose

Born April 10, 1993, Sofia Carson takes on the lead role of Alexandra “Alex” Rose. Known for her work in Disney Channel productions and more recently in dramatic roles, Carson brings vulnerability and determination to the character. Her performance anchors the film’s themes of self-discovery, portraying Alex as someone who grows from hesitant inheritor of her mother’s dreams into an independent woman with her own clear vision. The role requires emotional range across the film’s 123-minute runtime, from grief to revelation to romantic awakening.

Kyle Allen as Brad Ackerman

Kyle Allen plays Bradley “Brad” Ackerman, born October 10, 1994. Brad begins the film in a professional capacity as the attorney handling Elizabeth Rose’s estate, but his involvement deepens as he witnesses Alex’s journey. The character serves dual purposes: practical guide through the list’s logistics and emotional anchor as Alex processes grief and revelation. Allen’s chemistry with Carson drives the film’s central romance, with Brad evolving from executor to love interest through shared experiences completing list items.

Sebastian De Souza as Garrett Taylor

Sebastian De Souza portrays Garrett Taylor, Alex’s coworker at a women’s shelter. This detail grounds the character in social consciousness and suggests Alex already possessed depth before her mother’s death. Garrett functions as a romantic rival of sorts in the narrative, creating tension with Brad over Alex’s affections. The character provides an alternative perspective on who Alex could become versus who Brad represents.

Who is Alex’s true love in The Life List?

Alex ends up with Brad Ackerman by the film’s conclusion, making him her true love interest. The romantic arc develops naturally through their shared experience completing the bucket list, with Brad accompanying Alex on the journey her mother designed. Unlike the competing attention from Garrett Taylor, Brad’s connection with Alex stems from genuine understanding shaped by witnessing her process grief, confront family secrets, and redefine her own aspirations.

Ending explained

The film’s conclusion ties together the emotional threads established throughout. Brad’s initial professional role transforms into personal investment as he recognizes Alex’s authentic self emerging through the list completion. Garrett represents a different path — one more connected to Alex’s pre-transformation life — but the film positions Brad as the partner who appreciates who Alex becomes through her journey rather than who she was before.

Love interests compared

Garrett offers stability and familiarity, someone who knows Alex in her established context. Brad offers challenge and growth, someone who witnesses Alex’s transformation firsthand and falls for who she becomes. The narrative clearly favors Brad, using the bucket list journey as both literal plot device and metaphor for the kind of self-discovery that allows Alex to choose a partner who complements her evolved self rather than her inherited identity.

Is The Life List a good film?

The Life List received mixed reviews from critics, though audience response has been more favorable on the streaming platform. The film’s strengths lie in its emotional core and Carson’s lead performance, while criticism focuses on formulaic execution of the romantic comedy-drama formula.

According to Wikipedia’s coverage, the film earned mixed critical reception, with praise for the cast’s chemistry and emotional authenticity but noted weaknesses in pacing and predictable plot developments. Rotten Tomatoes serves as the primary aggregator for critic scores, though the platform’s consensus reflects the divided nature of responses.

Rotten Tomatoes reception

Rotten Tomatoes shows the mixed critical consensus typical of mid-tier Netflix releases. The platform’s reviewer scores indicate that while the film has defenders among critics, it did not achieve the universal acclaim that would distinguish it within the romantic comedy-drama space. For viewers seeking comfort viewing with emotional stakes, the film offers solid entertainment value; for those expecting fresh takes on familiar formulas, the reception suggests the execution falls short of the concept’s potential.

Viewer opinions

Netflix’s streaming metrics don’t provide public viewership data, but social media response and review aggregation indicate strong audience engagement. The film’s emotional through-line — mother-daughter reconciliation via bucket list — resonates with viewers who value heartwarming content with family themes. The Sofia Carson factor brings her existing fanbase, while the premise attracts viewers seeking accessible romantic dramas on the platform.

What did the daughter inherit in The Life List?

Alex inherits her mother’s childhood bucket list — a collection of dreams and aspirations Elizabeth wrote at fourteen but never pursued. This inheritance becomes the film’s central plot device, transforming what could be a simple keepsake into an active challenge that reshapes Alex’s understanding of her mother, her family history, and her own identity.

Inheritance details

Elizabeth Rose, played by Connie Britton, is revealed to be the founder of a cosmetics brand when she receives her terminal diagnosis. Rather than leaving Alex financial wealth or business assets, Elizabeth chooses to pass on something more personal — the unfulfilled ambitions she recorded as a teenager. The list includes items spanning personal growth, relationship goals, and experiences Elizabeth put aside as she built her career and family.

Impact on plot

The inheritance forces Alex to confront who her mother was before becoming a successful businesswoman and parent. Each list item requires Alex to step outside her established life, often leading to family revelations she hadn’t anticipated. The film positions this inheritance as Elizabeth’s final gift — not comfort but challenge, not closure but new beginning.

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Sofia Carson stars as Alex Rose alongside Kyle Allen’s Brad Ackerman in The Life List, where the full cast guide details Sebastian De Souza and Connie Britton too.

Frequently asked questions

The Life List brings together Sofia Carson’s star power with a premise that resonates: the dreams we abandon, the wisdom we inherit, and the person we become when we finally confront both. Whether you stream it this weekend or add it to your list for later, the cast — from Carson’s Alex to Kyle Allen’s Brad to Connie Britton’s posthumous presence — delivers the emotional goods the premise promises.

“When Alex Rose’s mother sends her on a quest to complete her childhood bucket list, it takes her on a journey that will make you both laugh and cry as she uncovers family secrets, finds romance, and discovers herself along the way.”

— ComingSoon via YouTube synopsis

“The Life List is emotional and heartfelt.”

— ScreenRant reviewer