Have you ever thought, later in life, of what you would tell your younger self if you had the chance? It would be the perfect opportunity to right any wrongs, as well as avoid any emotional potholes along the way.

Well that’s the premise for this latest of coming of age tale, starring Maisy Stella and Aubrey Plaza.

Well that’s the premise for this latest of coming of age tale, starring Maisy Stella and Aubrey Plaza.

Celebrating her 18th birthday is Elliott (Stella), who has a whole new life readying itself on her horizon. She’s about to leave the picturesque haven of home, where her family own a cranberry farm, and head off to university in the big old city.

To commemorate the occasion, she and a couple of her friends head off for an overnight stay on a local island, where they dabble with some mushrooms for a natural high. It’s while stoned that she’s visited by an older woman (Plaza), who is keen to impart some wisdom to her. Elliott isn’t clear as to why she should listen to a stranger, but then she reveals herself to be the 39-year-old Elliott, so knows of what she speaks. But the dilemma is, should young Elliott listen to the old Elliott?

Having a character confront another version of themselves is nothing new, but this take in a coming-of-age flick is a nice twist, albeit an all-too brief one.

It’s used so sparingly here, with Plaza being in all of two or three scenes, it makes you wonder if it was worth it. The film would have worked perfectly well without the mechanic, for the most part, but by using it, it does come across as all too gimmicky. You suspect that the reason for it was down to Plaza’s availability, or lack thereof, which is a shame, as certainly more could have been made of the set-up than it is.

That said, there are some charming performances throughout, in particular from the young Stella, who is brimming with natural energy, as she struggles with the curious dilemma in front of her.

Whatever you do, don’t even think about going down that particular rabbit hole of thinking what you would have told your younger self – your older self will most certainly dissuade you from doing so.