Life or Something Like It (2002)

Life or Something Like It takes a familiar rom-com setup and gives it a surprisingly soulful jolt: what if the person who seems to have everything is told, flat-out, that none of it means anything—and the clock is ticking? Angelina Jolie makes that existential wake-up call irresistible to watch, playing Lanie with glossy confidence that gradually cracks into something warmer, funnier, and more human, while Edward Burns provides a grounded, gently sparring counterbalance. The vibe is breezy and bright on the surface, but it keeps sneaking in honest little pangs about ambition, image, and the quiet ways we avoid real connection. It won’t win over viewers allergic to early-2000s sentiment or tidy romantic turns, but if you’re in the mood for a charming, unexpectedly earnest reset-button movie, it’s an easy, likable bet.

Life or Something Like It wants to be a feel-good wake-up call about ditching a glossy, shallow life for something real, with a “prophecy” gimmick to kick the heroine into gear. The problem is it plays like a checklist of rom-com/drama clichés, with lessons that arrive on schedule rather than landing emotionally, so the whole thing can feel manufactured and oddly low-stakes for a story about mortality. Angelina Jolie is likable and does what she can with the role, and there are a few warm, human moments (Tony Shalhoub brings some charm), but the script rarely earns its big realizations. If you’re allergic to predictable “find yourself” movies or need sharp writing and genuine bite, this will test your patience; if you just want an easy, mildly uplifting early-2000s comfort watch, it might do the job.