Circumventing the typical coming of age cliches is a difficult task, the key is creating fun, refreshing characters and My Old Ass succeeds all round. Not only do we have a lead character on the brink of leaving for college, but she also has an existential meeting with her older self which throws curve balls in her plans she never would have expected.
Meeting your older self could be seen as one massive spoiler, but Elliott the younger is still able to have the same experiences as her older counterpart, most likely made richer after taking advice from Elliott the elder. Her rollercoaster of emotions and discovery, in such a short space of time, feels condensed and maybe too much is meant to happen, but in retrospect a lot can happen and change your life in just a few weeks. A strange dream like scenario, as who wouldn’t want to talk to their older selves, Elliott faces this truth and accepts the situation very quickly, a trait, she points out, that is of the young. As always Aubrey Plaza, as older Elliott, is a gift on screen and even though she is only on screen (voice for the most part) for a short time, she leaves a lasting impression. But this story belongs to Maisy Stella, who plays the younger Elliott and she displays a panache for the dramedy. Encapsulating the fun carefree side of Elliott but still able to display wisdom that her older self could also learn from, the balance is maintained.
My Old Ass, is a light hearted, unexpected twist on the coming-of-age genre with a little bit of something extra thrown in. Supposedly science fiction, but who knows!