What if you could go back in time and reunite with your 18-year-old self? Would you dispense sage but somewhat vague advice? Would you break every sci-fi time travel rule and warn yourself of future tragedies? Writer/director Megan Park digs deeps into this very question with My Old Ass. This coming-of-age story sees one teen meeting her older self during a particularly memorable mushroom trip.
About My Old Ass
Here’s a synopsis of the film:
“In this fresh, big-hearted take on the classic coming-of-age fable, free-spirited teenager Elliott (Maisy Stella) encounters her wisecracking 39-year-old future self (Aubrey Plaza)—and can’t escape her influence. On the cusp of leaving home for college, Elliott is determined to have one last summer packed with good times. To celebrate her 18th birthday, she boats off to a remote island with her best friends to trip on mushrooms.
But just when Elliott thinks she’s not feeling a thing, she suddenly finds herself chatting with a woman who claims to be her literal ‘old ass’ (Aubrey Plaza)—the person she is apparently destined to become in two decades. Prodded for advice, Elliott’s future self gives her one major warning: avoid anyone named Chad, which sounds easy enough. But when Elliott meets the very Chad (Percy Hynes White) she was supposed to dodge, things get complicated. Elliott starts to open herself to what her future self might have to show her … and vice versa.”
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My Old Ass stars Maisy Stella, Aubrey Plaza, Percy Hynes White, Kerrice Brooks, Maddie Ziegler and Maria Dizzia. Megan Park directs from her own script.
Young Ass Meets Old Ass
(How many times can I mention “ass” in this review? Let’s find out together.) I’ve watched my fair share of coming-of-age movies. Most are the right amount of snarky and sweet, while others teeter into cloying territory. Sometimes, though, the dialogue doesn’t feel believable.
Now, it hasn’t been that long since I was a teen (I’d like to think so, at least). While certain generational vernacular has crept back into the shadows, with new, fresh lingo taking its place, the way teenagers talk hasn’t changed significantly. The cadence and rhythm are pretty much the same. Megan Park crafts free-flowing, honest, grounded dialogue for these characters—young Elliott, in particular—that whisks me back to my adolescence.
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Park also nails the inevitably awkward moments of teen-dom, including the unnatural interactions springing from them. You get secondhand embarrassment just watching said moments in this film.
Performances
Maisy Stella’s going to be a star. You heard it here first. She’s the true breakout of My Old Ass. Her revelatory performance is as messy and complex as it is wholly relatable. Stella also boasts easygoing, delightful chemistry with Aubrey Plaza.
My only gripe is that Plaza doesn’t get nearly enough screen time. That said, when Plaza hits those dramatic beats, she truly soars. Be sure to have tissues on hand because she will make you cry.
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Savor Every Moment
Park’s steady, fluid direction, coupled with her tight script, makes this narrative come alive. The result? A heartfelt, earnest, authentic story that captures the invincibility of youth and the pain of change. The sharp comedy also takes center stage, especially during the younger Elliott/older Elliott scenes. Park delivers a tour de force as a filmmaker and gives her actors plenty of space to play amid the picturesque Canadian wilderness.
My Old Ass is a fun watch that’ll have you laughing one moment and crying the next. Additionally, Park’s message about savoring every moment and not living on autopilot is universal. You’ll find her unique take on the traditional coming-of-age story really gives the genre renewed vim and vigor.
My Old Ass is currently in select theaters with a nationwide rollout on Friday, September 27, 2024.
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What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events.
Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet.
Bylines in: Tell-Tale TV, Culturess, Sideshow Collectibles, and inkMend on Medium.
Critic: Rotten Tomatoes, CherryPicks, and the Hollywood Creative Alliance.
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