My old assdirected by Megan Park, is about how a high school student, Elliott, encounters a surreal experience when her 39-year-old self, “Old Elliott” (played by Aubrey Plaza), mysteriously appears during a mushroom-fueled camping trip.
With her blunt humor and poignant warnings, Old Elliott becomes a guide, urging her younger self to avoid a specific person: Chad, a boy who seems charming but has a negative influence on Elliott’s life.
The official summary of My old ass reads below:
During a mushroom trip, the free-spirited Elliott comes face to face with her 39-year-old self. But when Elliott’s “old ass” warns her younger self, Elliott realizes she has to rethink everything about her family, life, and living. Love.”
Old Elliott’s goal is to guide her past self away from this romantic entanglement, hoping to change what she sees as a harmful path. However, young Elliott finds herself irresistibly drawn to Chad despite the advice, leading to an internal conflict between her heart and her future self’s warnings.
Old Elliott’s Warnings: A lighthearted but urgent intervention
The old Elliott reveals to her younger self that Chad, the seemingly perfect boy who works on her family’s cranberry farm, will tragically die young. This is a truth Elliott has lived with and shaped her into the wary, regret-filled adult she becomes.
Her attempt to prevent her younger self from bonding with Chad is an attempt to protect her from the emotional pain she has endured. By suggesting she avoid Chad altogether, Old Elliott hopes to spare young Elliott the heartache that will ultimately define her life.
Although she now knows the painful truth about Chad’s untimely death, young Elliott chooses to pursue a relationship with him. This decision represents a key moment of growth and self-awareness, as she realizes that the experience of love, even if brief, can be meaningful.
Her choice also reflects a rebellion against the fear-driven guidance of her future self, suggesting that some risks are worth taking, even if they lead to heartbreak. Young Elliott’s embrace of the fleeting beauty of love marks a powerful statement about living fully despite the inevitability of loss.
Young Elliott’s dilemma: romance versus self-preservation
For young Elliott, Chad means a relaxed love affair and the prospect of a heartbreaking romance. Even though her future self has warned her, she finds joy in Chad’s nonchalant personality, which is quite difficult to erase.
The film explores this tension between immediate emotional fulfillment and the knowledge that certain decisions have lasting consequences. Elliott’s struggle highlights the universal experience of youthful infatuation and the difficulty of seeing beyond the present moment, even with guidance from a parent himself.
My old ass is uplifting and combines comedy and tragedy, as Old Elliott’s rants remind her how seemingly crucial choices shape one’s future.
Aubrey Plaza’s portrayal of Old Elliott balances levity with emotional weight. Ultimately, the film proves that impulsive, young urges are often harder to resist. The film leaves audiences with a powerful message about the importance of cherishing time and making conscious decisions, highlighting how small choices impact our lives in the long run.
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Edited by Sarah Nazamuddin Harniswala