THE LIFE LIST – Review by Lynn Venhaus

Subtle, it’s not. But The Life List works on several levels – as a romantic comedy, a nudge to put your relationship with your mother in perspective, and as an evaluation checklist on your life so far – where you were, where you are now, and where are you going. It’s not as if the filmmakers wave a magic wand and everything’s hunky-dory – after all, this is not a fairy tale — but the sweet story is satisfyingly wrapped up with a big bow. It has appealing elements, most notably its winsome heroine, who unearths some gumption and gets back on the path to self-fulfillment.

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CARRY ON – Review by Susan Granger

With so many of us planning to fly this holiday season, Netflix’s explosive thriller – evoking memories of Die HardCarry-On couldn’t be timelier. It’s Christmas Eve at LAX (Los Angeles International Airport) and the rush is on. Thousands of travelers are loading their bags onto conveyor belts, eager to pass through security and board their designated flights. For 30 year-old Ethan Kopek (Taron Egerton) and his unexpectedly pregnant girl-friend Nora (Sofia Carson) it’s a celebratory day. Ethan’s been working as a low-level TSA agent just so he can have lunch every day with Nora, a supervisor at the same terminal. Meanwhile, a mysterious Traveler (Jason Bateman) is determined to get a dangerous bag through LAX security.

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