My Old Ass

"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.

Greetings again from the darkness. Eighteen-year-old Elliott is counting down the twenty-two days remaining until she leaves home for her freshman year of college. For anyone who was once 18 or has raised an 18-year-old, you know that 22 days is the future. Writer-director Megan Park follows up her excellent feature film debut, THE FALLOUT (2021), with a different tone, albeit another one that focuses on the stress of being a teenager.

Maisy Stella landed the role of Daphne on the series "Nashville" at a very young age, and even got to sing on the show with her sister Lennon. Her role as Elliott is her feature film debut, and she proves to be quite charming in front of the camera, with a nice screen presence. A camping trip with her friends Ro (Kerrice Brooks) and Ruthie (Maddie Ziegler) leads to a trip on mushrooms that has the friends hallucinating, while something altogether more extreme happens with Elliott. Coming face-to-face with one's future self while sitting on a log in the woods can only be described as fantastical.

Aubrey Plaza plays from-the-future thirty-nine-year-old (not 40!) Elliott, and though she doesn't have much screen time, her trademark snark fits well, and the scenes with both Elliotts are quite fun. However, this isn't the typical Hollywood body swap/share. The cool twist is that the situation allows for the age-old unsolvable dilemma: what advice would your older self give your younger self if that were possible? While attempting to walk a fine line, the wisdom passed along includes be nice to your mom and your family, and understand that "time goes by so fast". One final bit of counseling involves 'avoiding Chad'. At this point, young Elliott had no idea who Chad is or why she should avoid, but of course, she finds out quickly.

Chad (Percy Hynes-White, "Wednesday") turns out to be a college student working on the family cranberry farm. He's also exceedingly nice and Elliott struggles mightily against falling hard for him. Yes, this is the same Elliott who we've seen in intimate situations with local barista Chelsea (Alexandria Rivera). At its core, this is a contemporary story where a teenager is searching for identity and meaning. Other supporting cast members include Maria Dizzia as mom, Al Goulem as dad, and Seth Isaac-Johnson and Carter Trozzolo as Elliott's brothers - one addicted to golf, the other obsessed with actress Saoirse Ronan (complete with a funny visual).

Some cliches are almost necessary in this type of story, but a mushroom trip featuring a Justin Bieber sequence to "One Less Lonely Girl" is both funny and creative. Offering advice to one's younger self in an attempt to save her from pain is understandable, but can we figure out life at age 18 even if we cheat and get input from our 'middle-aged' self? In fact, what filmmaker Park has done is create a dual coming of age story - one for teens and one for adults. And if you don't like the messages ... well ... at least eat your salmon while it's still around!

In select theaters on September 13, expanded release on September 20, and wide release on September 27, 2024.

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 an emotionally authentic, fantastical trip on a wave of good vibes. Director Megan Park has done something special here, juxtaposing a surreal concept on some very real dynamics of a young Elliott (Maisy Stella) growing up; and it is a fun, scenic trip worth taking. Without offering any spoilers, this wonderfully crafted transportation into the "what ifs" in the rear view of life, is propped up by a stellar cast - with a ride on the suspension of disbelief expertly kept afloat by Aubrey Plaza. It has a feeling of nostalgia that resonates across generations. The authentic connections between Elliott, Chad (Percy Hynes White), and her friends (Maddie Ziegler, Kerrice Brooks), and family moments solidly hit home - poignant scenes with brother Max (Seth Isaac Johnson) as a social conscience, whimsical Spencer (Carter Trozollo) , and with her mom (Maria Dizzia) and dad (Alain Goulem), bring surprising emotional depths on a vehicle of relatable, and well delivered comedy. We came in for a short trip, and wound up wishing we could hang out longer inside this unexpected cinematic, treat.

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.