After her exceptional drama The Fallout, Megan Park has given us another winning coming-of-age story with My Old Ass. Starring Maisy Stella and Aubrey Plaza, the film blends comedy with time travel, and heartfelt moments, for one incredibly sharp movie.
When you’re walking into a screening and a theatre employee asks, “Did you bring tissues?” It definitely sets you up for an emotional journey.
My Old Ass release date: Sept. 27
Director/writer: Megan Park
Cast: Maisy Stella, Aubrey Plaza, Percy Hynes White, Maria Dizzia, Alain Goulem, Maddie Ziegler, Kerrice Brooks, Seth Isaac Johnson, Carter Trozzolo
Runtime: 89 minutes
What is ‘My Old Ass’ about?
Elliott (Stella) is excited to leave her small town to go to university in Toronto. Instead of spending her 18th birthday with her family, she decides to spend it hooking up with a girl she likes and then tripping on mushrooms with her friends.
It’s in this state that Elliott comes face-to-face with her 39-year-old self, played by Plaza.
While Older Elliott isn’t going to spill all the details of adult life, she stresses to Elliott that she should enjoy the time she has with her family, and spend as much time with them as possible. Her one specific piece of advice is to not fall in love with a boy named Chad.
As you’ll expect Elliott meets Chad, played by Percy Hynes White, who’s working for her family’s cranberry farming business. While Elliott tries to avoid him, she can’t deny their attraction, but also can’t understand why Older Elliott wants her to stay away from him.
Is ‘My Old Ass’ worth watching?
To get one thing out of the way, a movie where the lead characters gets to talk to her older self is one of those concepts that will be polarizing, with some thinking it may be too unbelievable to work. But leave your skepticism at the door with this one because Park manages to take this idea and effectively use it to enhance a really grounded, honest and heartfelt film.
Stella’s Elliott is a perfect representation of an 18-year-old. Charmingly youthful with just the right amount of ego, laser focused on leaving her small town to start her life as an independent adult in the city.
While we already know Plaza is comedy gold, she’s an absolutely amazing scene partner to volley sarcastic remarks back and forth with Stella. Plaza also has a vulnerability in this film that will break your heart by the end of the movie.
We won’t tell you exactly what’s so emotional about My Old Ass, but we’ll say that it really makes you think about how fast it feels like time is passing, encouraging us to really savour every moment we have with the people we love.
But don’t think this movie is a drag, because it’s incredibly fun, including a moment when Elliott has a performance of Justin Bieber’s “One Less Lonely Girl.”
It’s refreshing to see a film that packs this much of an emotional punch, while not making any compromises on the comedy.
Life is complicated. Things come our way that feel like they’ve wiped us out, while other moments are full of joy, and many things we experience come with a lot of fear. Park lets us sit in every corner of life’s experiences in just 89 minutes. It’s an impressive feat and this is easily one of the best coming-of-age stories to stand behind.