by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
What if you got the opportunity to meet the older version of yourself? Think back to your 18-year-old self — it would be interesting to see what types of things you would warn them about. You could have plenty of wisdom to pass down, helping to guide them into your own future. But you just might learn a thing or two from that younger version of yourself. We have all lost perspectives thanks to the beating down of life and time. These are some compelling ideas that writer/director Megan Park explores in her new comedy, My Old Ass. A young Canadian girl named Elliot (Maisy Stella) takes some mushrooms, and her 39-year-old self (Aubrey Plaza) appears to drop some wisdom and warnings, and we have ourselves a film!
Does My Old Ass do right by its interesting premise? It certainly delivers… but not what you might expect. To be honest, there is not a lot of Plaza in this film. She appears in a few scenes, but her presence is mostly felt throughout the film. A majority of the film exists in the lane of a coming-of-age film. Now that might disappoint some, but Park’s execution is fantastic. The film is only around 89 minutes, but it moves and always engages. When Stella and Plaza share the screen, though, there is electricity. Their dynamic is fresh and rich, with fun and emotion. There is also a good sense of mystery to some of the elder Elliot’s warnings. This keeps the younger Elliot on her toes, and the audience on theirs, too. There is satisfying execution and resolution to this intriguing concept as well.
How about from the vibes side of things? Park delivers a great personality to My Old Ass, which feels fully realized. The only glaring issue from the technical end of things (and the film in general) is the score. The chosen popular songs work so darn well, which is more frustrating. That might seem odd to focus on, but the music is just cheesy and overly saccharine. Luckily, the writing, performances, and emotions of the scenes can get past this roadblock. Park finds the perfect balance between the laughs and the emotion. There is endless Gen Z humor pouring from the mouths of these characters, which keeps you laughing throughout. One scene involving some mushrooms (of course) will have you and everyone else in the audience laughing out loud. The references, commitment to the bit, and execution are flawless. But don’t underestimate this cinematic experience. There are moments that just might have the whole audience tearing up.
What elements of the film really bring it to life, though? The cast. Stella is a star in the making. The boundless energy she brings is perfect for this film. She emotes and regulates an impressive range of emotions, while authentically selling all the dialogue and having great sense of comedic timing. Her facial expressions become important to the film, and she just nails them. Plaza maximizes every moment with her perfect comedic chops, but it is her emotional range that resonates the most. Her chemistry with Stella is electric, driving everyone to one of their shared scenes. A budding love interest for our young lesbian (but maybe bi or pan?) protagonist is Percy Hynes White’s Chad. He is quite charming and has a nice dynamic with Stella. The likes of Maddie Ziegler, Kerrice Brooks, and Maria Dizzia are standouts in a supporting cast that just clicks perfectly. Everyone does committed and strong work, no matter how much runtime they have to work with.
Why is My Old Ass so special? It is legitimately one of the funniest films of the year. It just might be one of the most emotionally resonant films of the year as well. There is just so much going for it, from the performances, to the themes, the concept, and the energy. It is miraculous just how much can be cultivated in such a condensed runtime. My Old Ass is an endlessly watchable type of film that gets all the coming-of-age beats right. This old ass loved it quite a bit.
Rating: Loved It
My Old Ass is currently playing in theaters
You can read more from Shane Conto, and follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd