Our Review

                    Movie:  MY OLD ASS

     Rating: R, language throughout, drug                              use and sexual material`

                          Length: 1:28

             Release Date: September 13, 2024  

Jeanne: Filmmaker Megan Park has co opted a locale from her childhood, the gorgeous Muskoka Lakes region in Canada, as the backdrop for her newest endeavor, MY OLD ASS. It’s a spectacular setting for a coming-of-age story with an intriguing twist.

 

On her 18th birthday, Elliott (Maisy Stella), eschews a family dinner --- cake, et al --- and takes off in her little boat with her two best friends, Ruthie (Maddie Ziegler), and Ro (Kerrice Brooks), to a remote island to trip on mushrooms. Disappointed that she isn’t feeling anything, while Ruthie and Ro are, a woman suddenly appears claiming to be her 39-year-old self. 

This Elliott (Aubrey Plaza), whom younger Elliott dubs “old ass”, offers advice on a multitude of things, including being kinder to their mother, Kathy (Maria Dizzia), and to stay away from anyone named Chad. Initially, Elliott thinks staying away from a boy named Chad should be easy since she’s only interested in girls. That is, until she actually meets Chad (Percy Hynes White), who is fun, kind and quite loveable.

 

Park, who wrote the screenplay and directs, has conceived a rather novel premise of one’s older self visiting --- and advising --- the younger self. It’s a dynamic script full of humor and pathos, so wonderfully written and enjoyable. She’s captured the dialogue and actions of teenage girls so perfectly --- the campsite scene after consuming the mushrooms is hilarious. 

Plus, her choices of Stella and Plaza to bring the two Elliotts to life are exactly what her screenplay demands. The funniest thing is they don’t really look that much alike --- which they address at their first meeting. But that is why these two women are inspired choices.

 

Stella is superb --- extremely natural in her performance. She and Plaza share an easy chemistry, and though Plaza’s role is much smaller, she’s so amazing. Her ability to play a wisecracker is well documented and that talent shines brightly here.

Not only does Stella have a real connection with Plaza, but it’s also apparent how well she connected with White. Like her character Elliott, Stella’s portrayal is carefree, emphasizing the free spiritedness of this young woman enjoying her last summer before college. And White’s performance goes hand in hand with Elliott’s playfulness. Had it not worked between the two of them, MY OLD ASS would be a very different movie.

 

There has been a plethora of coming-of-age movies over the last few years --- some great, others not so much. MY OLD ASS has a few things going for it that many don’t, including a beautiful score by Tyler Hilton, Park’s husband, and Jaco Caraco, and stunning cinematography from Director of Photography Kristen Correll. It’s a stellar accomplishment for Parks.

 

             In select theaters Sept 13th,

                   opens wide Sept 27th

 

Opinion: See It Now!