Don’t Tune Out My Old Ass
Alicia Silverstone, Stacey Dash, & Brittany Murphy. Clueless (Paramount Pictures, 1995).
Would your younger self listen to you?
Think back to who you were at 18. What was life like for you at that age? For a lot of people, we had more freedom before being bogged down by adulthood, some of us were reckless, and some of us were at the precipice of a new life. Our hearts and minds were more open to giving into new and sometimes risky opportunities. For many, life and the world seemed like it had endless chances.
I’ve spent more time than I’d like to admit thinking about things I would change from my past, or advice that I would give to my younger self. The thing is that none of us has the ability to go back in time and change things, until science proves otherwise, so why do people say things like, “If I could go back, I’d do this…”? I guess the desire to meet our younger selves at a pivotal time to try and change the course of our lives is human nature.
My Old Ass is based on this idea. Elliott, a young woman about to leave for college, goes on a mushroom trip one night and meets her 39-year-old self. Young Elliott is played by Maisy Stella, and older Elliott is played by Aubrey Plaza. The trip turns out to be more than just that because both versions of Elliott are somehow able to talk on the phone with each other after the trip. For older Elliott, it’s a way to remember what life was like for her at that time, and for younger Elliott, she gets to see a glimpse of what her adult life will be like.
Sadly, this movie didn’t do well in theaters, which is a bummer because it’s such a beautiful story and is well-acted. Stella plays younger Elliott just as one would expect from a kid fresh out of high school: kind of wild and self-involved, kind of ready to move away from her family and grow up, and kind of sad to be losing her childhood and moving on. Stella balances the teen ready for it all, who is still longing to hold on to childhood, gracefully.
As the character’s older self, Plaza is also excellent. Elliott has been through some shit in life, and there are major hints that the future world older Elliott lives in isn’t in the best condition. Plaza plays the role more like an older, wiser sister. Her straight-faced delivery and lovingly bossy tone gives young Elliott the push she needs to be a better sister and daughter before heading off to college. I personally think that Plaza is underrated in the roles I’ve seen her in, but that’s a different story.
When I was watching this movie, it made me feel a sense of protectiveness and love for my younger self, the self that was wide-eyed and ready to take on life after high school, much like younger Elliott. My Old Ass makes the audience think about whether our older selves, if given the chance, should give advice to our younger selves knowing that it could impact their choices. Maybe one day we might be able to, but would it be the best decision for ourselves?