My Old Ass

Another pleasant surprise! Went into this film (it was the Regal Mystery Movie on 9/9) with NO excitement at all - in fact I thought I would hate it outright, but I decided to suffer through it because I was going to have a livestream discussion about it later. Imagine my utter JOY when I got to the end of the movie and absolutely loved it! The acting, story, messaging - in all of its positive, uplifting, joyful, heartbreaking glory - make this coming of age tale well worth your time. The evolution the main character goes through is SO well-crafted and effective, that I am still blown away by how much I enjoyed the journey with her as a whole. Video review available on my YouTube channel.

This 69 year old straight white male absolutely loved this film. It has been years since I have been so moved by a film. I have never been a huge Aubrey Plaza fan. She has a lot of people that really love her. I just like her and she was very good in this, but the two young leads Maisy Stella and Percy Hynes White were just terrific.. I have always loved coming of age stories. There are going to be a lot of haters that give this a one cause they thought they were going to the Reagan movie in the theater next door, but I call this maybe the best Romantic Dramedy that I have ever seen . Truth be told I was grappling between a 9 and a 10 but decided to add the star tot counteract the haters. Sometimes with reviews I.worry that I am going to give spoilers. Let me just say that if you have a good heart you will love this film. I did not think much of Megan Park's first film "The Fallout" but she.wrote and directed a wonderful little film here and probably deserves the biggest kudos of all.

"My Old Ass" ain't what it might appear to be. Despite its low-brow title & silly central premise it's not a gawdy role-reversal comedy but an intelligent teen drama... in which Aubrey Plaza has a surprisingly minor support role while lesser-known Maisy Stella takes the lead (very well) as a Canadian farm-girl about to leave for uni, who on her 18th b'day does 'shrooms... 'hallucinating' Plaza as her 39yr old self, bringing advice from the future, especially about the disarmingly charming Percy Hynes White (good). With her second movie as writer / director Megan Park defies expectations, to deliver a gently enjoyable parable that'll doubtless be adored by its target teenage audience.

My Old Ass is a genre-bending coming-of-age story with a wild twist, directed by Megan Park. The film follows free-spirited Elliott (Maisy Stella), a teenager whose life takes an unexpected turn during her 18th birthday when a mushroom trip introduces her to a time-traveling version of herself-her 39-year-old "old ass" (played by Aubrey Plaza). What begins as a surreal encounter quickly turns into a hilarious and heartfelt journey as Elliott's older self starts dishing out unsolicited advice on love, family, and life choices, forcing young Elliott to rethink everything she thought she knew.

Park, following up on her strong debut The Fallout, dives into absurdity with this sophomore film, blending stoner comedy, sci-fi, and emotional drama with just the right touch of Hallmark-style sentimentality. The small-town lake setting of Muskoka, Ontario, adds a postcard-perfect charm to the otherwise wacky narrative, creating a warm contrast to the film's offbeat humor and time-bending antics.

Maisy Stella's portrayal of young Elliott captures the essence of teenage uncertainty and angst, while Aubrey Plaza's older Elliott injects the story with her signature dry wit and offbeat energy. Plaza's performance, which could have easily overshadowed the film, instead complements Elliott's more earnest journey, striking a balance between humor and heartfelt moments. Together, the two create a compelling dynamic that elevates the film beyond its quirky premise.

While the film's surreal elements could have derailed into chaos, Park masterfully keeps things grounded, using the bizarre premise to enhance the emotional stakes. Elliott's internal struggles about growing up, love, and identity hit hard, and even though the film dips into melodrama, it maintains a level of authenticity that resonates.

The supporting cast adds depth to the film, though some characters feel underutilized. Elliott's best friend Ro (Kerrice Brooks) is unfortunately relegated to the role of a sounding board, and her story arc feels a bit underdeveloped. Percy Hynes White's charming portrayal of Chad, Elliott's summer love interest, brings added tension as Elliott's older self warns her against pursuing him, creating a tug-of-war between her past and future desires.

Despite a few familiar tropes, My Old Ass delivers a delightful mix of laughs, emotional beats, and chaotic energy. The film's exploration of identity, time, and the messy transition into adulthood strikes a chord, and Park's playful mixing of genres keeps the ride enjoyable, even if not every element perfectly lands.

With its mix of sci-fi weirdness, heartfelt moments, and stoner comedy, My Old Ass will appeal to those looking for something unconventional but relatable. It's a sweet, funny, and sometimes nostalgic trip that punches with emotional force, often without you even realizing it. Though the film wraps up a little too quickly, it leaves a lasting impression-a fun, surprising, and emotional journey into the complicated world of growing up.

My Old Ass is a coming of age story that merges elements of a stoner comedy with some low tech time travel to great effect. It's so funny and easy to like but its greatest strength comes from the emotional core and the beautiful messages which come from it. It's a winning argument about how life is messy, scary and full of extremely painful heartbreak however, that only makes it all the more important to take the risks and enjoy the best moments.

Maisy Stella gives an amazing lead performance, starting off unaware of what she's about to leave behind which allows her to grow over the course of the film and her internal struggles as she discovers new things about herself unfold in a really earnest fashion. Aubrey Plaza is only on screen for two scenes and it's so impressive how funny she is in the first one and how much emotion she brings to the second. Percy Hynes White nails his part as someone who is supposed to be a red flag but his actions only confirm the opposite.

As writer & director Megan Park delivers a breezily entertaining film that consistently looks nice thanks to its scenic locations and ability to hone in on the smaller details that mean everything before delivering a well earned emotional gut punch at the end. All the dialogue feels authentic without ever coming across as unintentionally awkward and there's a lot of fun to be had in catching the small details Aubrey Plaza lets slip about this version of the future.