My Old Ass speaks to the universal experience of tripping on mushrooms and seeing Aubrey Plaza show up next to you to give you free advice. This coming-of-age dramedy is written and directed by Megan Park, who previously helmed the 2021 film The Fallout. This movie stars Maisy Stella as Elliott Labrant, a recent high school graduate who takes mushrooms and finds herself talking to her 39-year-old self. This film premiered at Sundance and is getting a theatrical release that I can’t help but root for. It’s the most touching, must-see coming-of-age film of the year.
I want people to see this movie and talk about it. It’s produced by Margot Robbie and Tom Ackerley, who most recently produced last year’s Barbie and Saltburn. This movie should be the talk of the town, especially given how fantastic it is. I’m a sucker for a heartwarming film like this, mainly because it throws in a touch of supernatural fun. My Old Ass is a refreshing character piece that spends so much time with its protagonist and her relationship with her mother, brother, love interest, friends, and even her older self. In lesser hands, this movie could have been overstuffed, but Park makes it work.
At first, I wasn’t sure about the film. The humor was passable, but something about the energy felt slightly muted. It may have been the lack of a musical score, especially during the scene where Older Elliott first appears, when it could have benefitted from this. It feels awkward at first, and it takes time to get you on its wavelength. However, one constant throughout the entire film is Stella’s performance. She is a delight, creating a character you can cheer on even though she’s as flawed and messy as anyone her age.
One quality of her performance I caught early on was that it didn’t feel like an Aubrey Plaza impression. It would make sense to give an impression of the famous actor playing your older self (just ask Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who plays young Bruce Willis in Looper), mainly because Plaza has such a distinct persona and demeanor. Somehow, the young and older versions of Elliott still feel like the same person. Part of this is because Plaza has much less screen time than you may think, but Stella also plays the character with a grounded sincerity that you couldn’t get if she were stuck matching Plaza’s mannerisms.
My Old Ass does a phenomenal job of posing the question: what would you tell your younger self? The screenplay expertly weaves in profound emotional ideas grounded in a person advising their younger self to avoid making the mistakes they know they’ll make. The film picks up considerably during the second half while crafting a nuanced, well-crafted view of Elliott’s sexuality. While Older Elliott is not onscreen as much as expected, it works because this film is about the younger Elliott. Too much Aubrey Plaza could have her steal the limelight, so the film works perfectly as this movie star vehicle for Maisy Stella.
This film is a meditative crowd-pleaser that works on many levels. Older Elliott advises her younger self to avoid a boy named Chad. Soon enough, Elliott meets Chad. When we eventually find out why Older Elliott wants her younger self to avoid him, it’s genuinely heartbreaking, but there’s a nature to it that feels earned and emotionally resonant. Furthermore, the dialogue is always handled with immense talent. Stella and Percy Hynes White are charming presences, and the dialogue always feels organic. They match each other’s energy well, and Park does a superb job of writing dialogue designed to make the characters laugh, not necessarily the audience.
The characters often speak in a way that’s very accurate to Gen Z, and at least one moment with Elliott and her mother, played by Maria Dizzia, will speak to anyone who has ever had a close relationship with their mom. The movie balances out the perspectives very well, showing that not only does Elliott have a lot to learn from her more mature, experienced older self, but her older self also has a lot to learn from her free-spirited younger self who is not scared to make mistakes and live life.
Overall, My Old Ass is a beautiful movie with a bittersweet nature. It leaves you on an emotional high note that will leave you smiling through your tears. Maddie Ziegler and Kerrice Brooks are also lovely presences as Elliott’s friends. Something about a movie that touches on so many beautiful, relatable coming-of-age themes while being a powerful LGBTQ+ narrative will have you feeling all the feels. It’s one of the best movies of the year, and you have to add it to your watchlist.
SCORE: 8/10
As ComingSoon’s review policy explains, a score of 8 equates to “Great.” While there are a few minor issues, this score means that the art succeeds at its goal and leaves a memorable impact.
Disclosure: ComingSoon attended a press screening for our My Old Ass review.
