My Old Ass

Megan Park's sophmore debut is an original and endearing comedy

Despite many cinephiles complaining about the lack of originality in Hollywood, creative stories are being made; one has to look beyond high budget flicks. The newest example of creative endeavor hitting big screens is Sundance darling: My Old Ass (2024).

My Old Ass is the story of spunky Elliot (Maisy Stella), who takes a mushroom trip with her two best friends (Kerrice Brooks, Maddie Ziegler) the summer before leaving to college in the big city from her small lakeside town. During her trip, Elliot meets her 39-year-old self (Aubrey Plaza), who imparts advice and warnings. Upon following these recommendations Elliot is challenged on her approach to family, relationships, and life.

My Old Ass is the second film from Megan Park after school-shooting survivor drama The Fallout (2021). The tonal change is truly astounding with her new film. Park slips into the coming-of-age comedy beats with ease, with her original spin, clearly taken from therapy sessions. This fantastical element is a welcome one that balances its humor with its more profound messages. Park threads her story with a steady rhythm, which, thanks to her likeable characters and magnetic cast, viewers are happy to spend time without need of a fleshed narrative. It is in the character dissection of free-spirited Elliot, that viewers can project their reflections on what our older or younger versions would say to each other. I’m sure that viewers of different ages will be affected in different ways and be stirred by some scenes more than others, leading the film to be an interesting one to dissect with a parent or younger sibling.

My Old Ass was sold as a two-hander between Plaza and Stella, yet Plaza is scantily in the film – though winning as always, when she is. My Old Ass is carried by newcomer Stella, a welcome discovery. Not only does Stella’s charisma burst from the screen, but she will give viewers the rare film star air of familiarity, as if viewers had been seeing her on screen for decades (this is her first film). Elsewhere, Plaza has a powerful scene in the third act that showcases her burgeoning talent. Meanwhile, Percy Hynes White, who plays a man Elliot is warned to stay away from, is another stand-out, bringing charm and likeability within a few lines of dialogue, and winning viewers to him despite the narrative warnings.

My Old Ass brings the deep life messages you expect from its premise, yet it develops them without being saccharine and maintaining its distinct humor. One does feel that the premise of meeting one’s older self is not fully exploited to its full potential, leaving My Old Ass to feel like it missed out on switching to a higher gear. Viewers would not have minded a longer movie (the run time is a scant 1 hr 28 mins), but it might have made emotional beats redundant and risked exposing plot holes as a result.

In the end, My Old Ass is a wholesome coming of age story with an original premise embodied by magnetic performers. Stella is a true breakout and Park demonstrates a genre deftness that thankfully will help keep the flame of originality and creativity burning bright.

8.1/10