My Old Ass, directed by Megan Park, is about how a high school senior, Elliott, encounters a surreal experience when her 39-year-old self, “Old Elliott” (played by Aubrey Plaza), mysteriously appears during a shroom-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 impact on Elliott’s life.
The official summary of My Old Ass reads below:
"A mushroom trip brings free-spirited Elliott face-to-face with her 39-year-old self. But when Elliott's "old ass" delivers warnings to her younger self, Elliott realizes she has to rethink everything about her family, life and love."
Old Elliott’s goal is to steer her past self away from this romantic entanglement, hoping to alter what she perceives as a detrimental path. However, young Elliott finds herself irresistibly drawn to Chad despite the advice, leading to internal conflict between her heart and her future self’s cautions.
Old Elliott’s Warnings: A Lighthearted but Urgent Intervention
Old Elliott reveals to her younger self that Chad, the seemingly perfect boy working on her family’s cranberry farm, will tragically die young. This is a truth Elliott has lived with, shaping her into the wary, regret-filled adult she becomes.
Her attempt to dissuade her younger self from forming a bond with Chad is an effort to shield her from the emotional pain she endured. By suggesting she avoid Chad altogether, Old Elliott hopes to spare young Elliott the grief that will eventually shape her life.
Even though she now knows the painful truth about Chad’s early 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 her future self’s fear-driven guidance, 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 vs. Self-Preservation
Chad for young Elliott signifies a laid-back lovey-dovey relationship and a prospect of gut-wrenching romance. Even though her future self has forewarned her, she finds pleasure 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 an older self.
My Old Ass is uplifting, combining comedy and tragedy, as the Old Elliott rants serve to remind her how seemingly pivotal choices shape one’s future.
Indeed, Aubrey Plaza’s portrayal of Old Elliott balances levity with emotional weight. In the end, the film proves that impulsive, young urges are often harder to resist. The film leaves audiences with a powerful message on the importance of cherishing time and making mindful decisions, underscoring how small choices impact our lives long-term.
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