List of a Lifetime (2021 Lifetime)
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Cast: Patricia Velasquez, Kelly Hu, Shannen Doherty
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Synopsis (via Lifetime)
Brenda Lee is diagnosed with breast cancer and is prompted to look for the daughter she gave up for adoption decades ago. After finding Talia and sharing her devastating news, Talia convinces Brenda to make a bucket list of everything she wants to do, promising to help her complete everything on the list.
Recap/Wine Thoughts
Brenda tensely waits at a doctor’s appointment, where she finds out that she has break cancer with nine months to live. Brenda also learns that she has a mutation that causes cancer to be transmitted through childbirth. The doctor recommends surgery and aggressive chemo.
Shellshocked, Brenda goes home, pours herself a well-deserved glass of wine… ok, a bottle, as she looks through old photos alone. (Her boyfriend Mike is an MIA workaholic jerk.) Brenda had a child that she gave up for adoption. Eventually, she calls her friend Meg because she is all alone and decides to try and find her daughter.
Talia is a trendy blog writer or something. (The woman has a yellow front door, she is living her best life!) Her mother is Shannen Doherty, so that is cool! As Talia writes, there is a knock at the door. Brenda Lee tells Talia that she is her birth mother and she should get checked for breast cancer. The meeting is awkward, but Talia asks to exchange numbers and plan a dinner date.
When Talia tells her opportunistic co-worker Morgan about the cancer diagnosis, the friend tells her to use the story for the blog!!! Talia is hesitant because she thinks the optics aren’t the best (Good instincts, girl!)
At the fancy dinner, Brenda is shocked at the extravagance of everything. Talia encourages Brenda to enjoy herself. As they eat, they talk about Brenda’s family and struggles growing up as a child of immigrants. Talia shares about her adopted family and asks Brenda what she would do if she could do anything with her time left. They come up with a list. (Which includes: Withdrawing her savings, quitting her job, kicking Mike to the curb, and getting back in the water???) Executing the list is another story and Brenda has trouble standing up for herself.
Talia continues to push Brenda to “live for now.” They TP Talia’s ex-boyfriends for stealing her blog idea while screaming, “No one is going to walk all over me!” (It’s a cute scene and probably the first time someone has been dressed up as a burglar and NOT killed someone or placed a nanny cam in a Lifetime Movie.) Brenda tells Mike about her cancer diagnosis. He somehow makes it all about himself AND BLAMES BRENDA?!?! (Mike sucks!) Brenda breaks up with Mike, quits her job, and crosses them off her bucket list. Then Brenda adds “Finish Art Degree” to the list.
The NEW Brenda is overjoyed and vivacious. She excitedly recaps everything that has happened to Meg. Meg is cautious and warns her friend to be careful spending so much time with Talia. Brenda doesn’t take Meg’s advice and teaches her daughter how to make the traditional Chinese Dumpling, Jiaozi Fun. Brenda even opens up about her parents dying in a boating accident. The trauma is still genuine for Brenda, and she blames herself.
Talia’s parents interpret the moment, and Shannen Doherty freaks out. Talia tries to explain and mentions that she is writing an article, which causes Brenda to freak out. Brenda gets so worked up that she faints and is admitted to the hospital.
At the hospital, Talia’s parents beg her to get tested for the cancer mutation. Tension is high between them, but eventually, Shannen Doherty comes around and realizes that she is ridiculous, and of course, Talia should spend time with her dying birth mother. (The dynamics of an adopted and birth family must be so difficult to navigate, cancer or not.) Brenda releases herself from the hospital and cancels the surgery for a mastectomy because she has nothing left to live for. Brenda screams at Talia when she tries to convince her to get the surgery and accuses her daughter of just using her for a blog post.
Talia doubles down and takes Brenda to a lake, and puts her ass on a boat to face her fears. The mother and daughter row into the middle of the lake and talk about why Brenda wants to die. Brenda says that she feels that she has no value and is a ghost in her own story. After some tears, Brenda agrees to try and fight cancer and gives her blessing for Talia to publish the article because she is proud of Talia and the woman that she is.
The article is a success with 126,000 views. (So THAT is what a good blog’s number looks like!) Brenda is in remission, and Talia throws her mother a party celebrating her life. (It includes blown-up photos from the photo albums and lots of cheap battery operated Christmas lights) The final poster board includes the bucket list.
Side Note
Minority Report: Brenda, Talia, Meg, Morgan,
This is not based on a true story persay, but Shannen Doherty hosts a documentary after the movie to raise awareness about Breast Cancer and her personal diagnosis and battle with breast cancer.
MarVista Entertainment and Ninth House productions teaming up to produce a movie!? Iconic.
If you’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer, here are links to organizations that can help:
Breast Cancer Research Foundation
Breast cancer is a complex disease with no simple solution. Research is the key to stopping it in its tracks. Founded in 1993 by Evelyn H. Lauder, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation is the largest private funder of breast cancer research globally. BCRF invests in the best minds in science—from those investigating prevention to metastasis—and fosters cross-disciplinary collaboration.
Nueva Vida’s mission is to inform, support, and empower Latino families whose lives are affected by cancer and to advocate for and facilitate timely access to state-of-the-art cancer care.
Sisters Network Inc. is committed to increasing local and national attention to the devastating impact that breast cancer has in the African American community.
SHARE is a national nonprofit that supports, educates, and empowers women affected by breast, ovarian, or metastatic breast cancer, with a special focus on medically underserved communities. Their mission is to connect these women with the unique support of survivors and peers, creating a community where no one has to face breast or ovarian cancer alone.
Young Survival Coalition (YSC) strengthens the community, addresses the unique needs, amplifies the voice, and improves the quality of life of young adults affected by breast cancer, locally, nationally, and internationally.
To connect people with trusted breast cancer information and a community of support.
Breast Cancer Prevention Partners
BCPP is the nation’s leading science-based policy and advocacy organization dedicated to breast cancer prevention.
📺. Stream/Watch the Movie (Ad): https://amzn.to/3BU9Km1
➡️ Check out our Youtube Channel: Lifetime Uncorked: Lifetime Movie Reviews
🎧 Listen to the Lifetime Uncorked Podcast: https://anchor.fm/lifetime-uncorked
🍷 Support the show with a $3 tip: https://ko-fi.com/patrickserrano
📚 Read the book this movie is based on: https://amzn.to/35Aol7Q
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*** I’ve updated the rating system moving forward start 7/26/2021. Knives represent # of kills. Wine is over enjoyment (NOT a value judgment) on a 1-5 scale.
I will use the following tags for those who want to know watch or skip: Pour it Up (Would Recommend) or Put A Cork In It (Would Not Recommend)
Overall rating
Number of Kills:
🔪 ( 0 Knives, not that kind of Lifetime Movie.)
Enjoyment Level: 🍷 🍷 🍷 (3 glasses of wine)
*Photo Credit: © 2021 Lifetime® | A+E Networks®
Live tweet along with @LifetimeUncork using the hashtag #ListofaLifetime
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