What’s It About
Elliott Labrant, who has been advised by her future self not to fall in love, is sure she can follow the advice she has been given. That is, until she meets the boy her older self warned her about.
MOVIESinMO REVIEW
In this coming-of-age story, 18-year-old Elliott (Maisy Stella) spends her last summer before college in Muskoka, Ontario, where her family runs a cranberry farm. With three weeks left until she starts at the University of Toronto, Elliott divides her time between helping on the farm and boating on the lake. One night, Elliott and her best friends Ruthie (Maddie Ziegler) and Ro (Kerrice Brooks) decide to camp on a lake island and experiment with psychedelic mushrooms. During her trip, Elliott encounters her 39-year-old self (Aubrey Plaza). Despite their stark physical differences—which older Elliott dismissively attributes to dental retainers and skincare—young Elliott eventually accepts this strange visitor from the future. Naturally, when Chad (Percy Hynes White) appears—charming and attractive—young Elliott struggles to heed this warning. The situation becomes more complex as Elliott, who had previously assumed she was a lesbian and is casually involved with a local girl, finds herself attracted to Chad, prompting her to question her sexual identity. The film achieves a delicate balance: funny without being frivolous, thoughtful without being heavy-handed, and emotional without being melodramatic. By grounding its high-concept premise in authentic character moments, it creates a story that is entertainingly bizarre and deeply relatable. While the premise might suggest a lightweight comedy, the film delves deeper into self-discovery and growing up themes. It balances poignant moments with humor, including a standout musical sequence featuring Elliott’s rendition of Justin Bieber’s “One Less Lonely Girl” during another attempt to summon her future self. The movie primarily focuses on young Elliott’s journey, with the older version serving as a catalyst for self-reflection rather than dominating the narrative. Through their interactions, the film explores questions about fate, the malleability of the future, and the value of present moments. The film ultimately transcends its seemingly simple premise to explore youth, identity, and the choices that shape our futures.
OUR RATING – A PANSEXUAL 7