My Old Ass
An 18th birthday mushroom trip brings free-spirited Elliott face-to-face with her wisecracking 39-year-old self. But when Elliott’s "old ass" starts handing out warnings about what her younger self should and shouldn't do, Elliott realizes she has to rethink everything about family, love, and what's becoming a transformative summer.
Working with a tight budget of $3.0M, the film achieved a steady performer with $5.7M in global revenue (+90% profit margin).
9 wins & 37 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
My Old Ass (2024) exhibits strategically placed narrative architecture, characteristic of Megan Park's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 29 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.3, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Elliott (18)
Older Elliott (39)
Chelsea
Ro
Chad
Main Cast & Characters
Elliott (18)
Played by Maisy Stella
An 18-year-old on the cusp of leaving for college who meets her 39-year-old self during a mushroom trip and receives cryptic advice about her future.
Older Elliott (39)
Played by Aubrey Plaza
The 39-year-old version of Elliott who appears during the mushroom trip to offer guidance and warnings to her younger self.
Chelsea
Played by Kerrice Brooks
Elliott's best friend who shares in her final summer adventures before college.
Ro
Played by Maddie Ziegler
Elliott's other close friend, part of her tight-knit trio navigating the end of their teenage years.
Chad
Played by Percy Hynes White
A charming farm worker who becomes romantically involved with Elliott, despite warnings from her older self.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Elliott, 18, enjoys her last summer on her family's cranberry farm in Ontario, eager to leave for the city and college, showing little appreciation for her present life.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 11 minutes when Elliott and her friends take mushrooms on an island to celebrate her 18th birthday. During the trip, her 39-year-old self (played by Aubrey Plaza) appears and sits down beside her.. At 13% through the film, this Disruption is delayed, allowing extended setup of the story world. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 22 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Elliott meets Chad, the boy her older self warned her about. Despite the warning, she's intrigued and decides to get to know him, actively choosing to engage with her present rather than just waiting to leave., moving from reaction to action.
At 45 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat Elliott demands to know why her older self wants her to avoid Chad. The older Elliott becomes emotional but refuses to give a clear answer, hinting at something tragic. The stakes are raised—this isn't just about a summer romance., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 67 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Elliott realizes or learns that Chad is going to die young. The "whiff of death" becomes literal—her older self's pain and the reason for the warning become devastatingly clear., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 71 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Elliott chooses to embrace the present moment with Chad despite knowing the future pain. She understands that the love and connection are worth the inevitable loss—the film's central theme crystallized., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
My Old Ass's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping My Old Ass against these established plot points, we can identify how Megan Park utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish My Old Ass within the comedy genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Bad Guys, Ella Enchanted and The Evening Star.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Elliott, 18, enjoys her last summer on her family's cranberry farm in Ontario, eager to leave for the city and college, showing little appreciation for her present life.
Theme
Elliott's friend or family member mentions something about appreciating the moments you have or not rushing through life, foreshadowing the film's exploration of living in the present.
Worldbuilding
Introduction to Elliott's world: her family's cranberry farm, her friends, her younger brothers, and her desperate desire to escape to the city. She's counting down the days until she leaves.
Disruption
Elliott and her friends take mushrooms on an island to celebrate her 18th birthday. During the trip, her 39-year-old self (played by Aubrey Plaza) appears and sits down beside her.
Resistance
Elliott debates whether the encounter was real. Older Elliott stays in contact via phone, giving cryptic advice. Most importantly, she warns Elliott to stay away from a boy named Chad.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Elliott meets Chad, the boy her older self warned her about. Despite the warning, she's intrigued and decides to get to know him, actively choosing to engage with her present rather than just waiting to leave.
Mirror World
Elliott begins spending time with Chad, who embodies living in the moment and appreciating the beauty of their rural home. He represents everything she thought she wanted to leave behind but is learning to value.
Premise
Elliott falls for Chad while receiving continued warnings from her older self. She explores her home with new eyes, spending quality time with her family, and experiencing the present moment rather than rushing toward the future.
Midpoint
Elliott demands to know why her older self wants her to avoid Chad. The older Elliott becomes emotional but refuses to give a clear answer, hinting at something tragic. The stakes are raised—this isn't just about a summer romance.
Opposition
Elliott grows closer to Chad and her family, but the mystery of why she must avoid him weighs on her. She's torn between her deepening feelings and her older self's warnings. The impending end of summer approaches.
Collapse
Elliott realizes or learns that Chad is going to die young. The "whiff of death" becomes literal—her older self's pain and the reason for the warning become devastatingly clear.
Crisis
Elliott grapples with the knowledge of Chad's fate. She must decide whether to push him away to protect herself from future pain or embrace the time they have left, knowing it will end in loss.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Elliott chooses to embrace the present moment with Chad despite knowing the future pain. She understands that the love and connection are worth the inevitable loss—the film's central theme crystallized.
Synthesis
Elliott spends her remaining time truly present with Chad, her family, and her home. She says goodbye to her older self, having learned the lesson. She leaves for college transformed, carrying both the joy of what she experienced and acceptance of its impermanence.
Transformation
Elliott, now leaving for college, looks back at her home and family with genuine love and appreciation, no longer desperate to escape but grateful for what she has. She carries the bittersweet wisdom of living fully in each moment.