Sofia Carson checks off Life List goals after her mom's death in trailer for new rom-com (exclusive)

Sofia Carson reluctantly embarks on a quest to complete her childhood bucket list in Entertainment Weekly's exclusive look at the trailer for The Life List.

From writer-director Adam Brooks (DefinitelyMaybe; Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason)the romantic comedy stars Carson as Alex Rosea young woman who finds herself at a crossroads when her beloved motherElizabeth (Connie Britton)dies. While meeting with her mom's lawyer to settle her affairsAlex is stunned to learn that Elizabeth has left her an unusual message. In a pre-recorded videoElizabeth explains that Alex must complete a childhood bucket list before she can receive her inheritance. This "life list," which Alex compiled when she was 13includes goals like doing stand-up comedymaking peace with her dadand finding true love.

While The Life List has no shortage of swoon-worthy love interestsincluding that aforementioned lawyerAlex's deep bond with her late mom serves as the film's emotional core. Exploring that tight mother-daughter relationship was part of what drew Carson to the role.

"I think one of the reasons that Adam and I connected so deeply was because of my relationship with my mom," Carson tells EW. "He felt it really mirrored Alex and Elizabeth's relationship." In factit was Carson's mother who first sent her the scriptwhich the star calls "one of the most human scripts I've had the privilege of reading." She adds"I connected to Alex pretty instantly. Alex is all of us at some point in our livesand the journey that she takes is so beautiful and meaningful; so simpleyet so powerful."

Want more movie news? Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free newsletter to get the latest trailerscelebrity interviewsfilm reviewsand more.

Brooks says his leading lady "dove into the role fearlessly." For the filmmakerthe feature — an adaptation of Lori Nelson Spielman's novel of the same name — was over a decade in the making. "The book was brought to me by a producer over 10 years ago," Brooks explains. "I loved the themes of loss and reinventionthe mix of comedy and dramaand the wonderfully original central premise about the life list. It's a story about the times in life when you need to take measure of who you arewhat you're doingand who you're doing it with. These are challenging momentsespecially for people of Alex's age. She's almost 30 and urgently feels the need to redefine who she is in relation to love and work and family."

Equal parts rom-com and family dramathe movie follows Alex as she reconnects with not just herself but those who've helped shape her. Carson says there was an "instant familiarity" with the "loving" and "open" Brittonas well as fellow costars Federico RodriguezDario Ladani Sanchezand José Zúñigawho round out the Rose family. "That provided such a safe space for us to be so quickly vulnerable with each other," she adds.

The Life List isabove all elsea "portrait of life," Carson notesadding"Alex takes us through this journey of loss with tears in her eyesa smile on her faceand wit on her lips as she learns to live again. More than anythingI hope you watch this film and feel awakened to life again." Adds Brooks"When you do a good job with a moviepeople will come up to you and say'How did you know that about me?' Of courseyou don't actually know anything about thembut if you've been able to go deep into the specificity of your characters and story, you can touch all kinds of people. I hope people will give themselves to our story andin returnget something that is entertaining but also catharticemotionaland very personal."

Watch the trailer for The Life Listout March 28 on Netflixabove. Check out more exclusive photos below.