My Old Ass is a coming of age story with fantasy notes and a powerful motif about appreciating the everyday moments in life. It stars Maisy Stella as 18 year old Elliott, about to leave for college. She gets high on mushrooms with her girlfriends and meets her 39 year old self, played by Aubrey Plaza.
My Old Ass is a touching and beautiful story. It was directed by Megan Park, who also directed the wonderful film The Fallout. Young Maisy Stella carries the film admirably. Aubrey Plaza was not in it that much, so don’t go into it as a fan of Aubrey Plaza expecting her to be the lead.
Elliott was leaving for college in Toronto in 22 days. She couldn’t wait to leave. It was her 18th birthday. She and her two besties (Maddie Ziegler and Kerrice Brooks) camped in the woods and took mushrooms. Suddenly Elliott’s older self is beside her on a log, roasting marshmallows and wondering why she’s there.
Younger Elliott wants to know how to make a ton of money on the stock market in the future by hearing about another Apple. Older Elliott is evasive. She wants younger Elliott to spend more time with her parents and siblings and stay away from a guy named Chad.
Before the night is over, Older Elliott puts her phone number in younger Elliott’s phone. She uses the name “my old ass.”
Younger Elliott likes girls. Not boys. She isn’t worried about some unknown person named Chad.
So, of course, the very next day she meets Chad (Percy Hynes White). He is working on the family cranberry farm. Her dad (Alain Goulem) hired him for the summer.
She likes Chad. It throws her whole concept of who she is and her sexuality into question. Phone calls and texts from her older self keep telling her to stay away from Chad.
There were many touching moments in the film. A discussion with Chad about the last time she played pretend with her friends all day long. A conversation with her mom (Maria Dizzia) about the last time she rocked little two year old Elliott to sleep. A golf game with her brother. Really noticing and soaking in the details of a cranberry harvest. Older Elliott meeting Chad.
The beauty of the film was in the connections between people and in the joyous decision to live life to the fullest NOW, no matter what grim misfortunes might await in the future. It was a short film, not quite 90 minutes. There could have been more character development, but the film was almost perfect even without it. The point it made was clear: appreciate and cherish the good things you have in life before they are gone.
Filming was done at Muskoka, Ontario, which is stunning and beautiful. You can see the film on Prime Video.
If you watch it, I’d love to know if you liked it as much as I did. Please share your reactions in the comments.
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The Muskoka Lakes area has officially been added to my vacation bucket list. Just gorgeous. Wholeheartedly agree with your review. Loved this movie and its message. Maizy Stella is a star. I even loved her takeoff on Justin Bieber. The casting was so perfect with Percy Hynes White as Chad.
Did you watch Nashville? Maisy Stella and her older sister played the children of Connie Britton in that. they have amazing musical talent. I was so happy that they found a way to let her sing a bit.
I did watch Nashville but never made the connection.
Nice elements in this one. What stood out for me:
* Maisy Stella’s naturalistic performance; the rapport between Stella and Percy Hines White. Nice spark between the two.
* The scene on the dock where Elliott and Chad open up to each other. It was nicely written, performed and filmed. Just two people sitting together, having a quiet conversation, really seeing and accepting each other. Elliott stripping off labels, clearly, taking the first real steps toward a broader sense of self.
* The insightfully written dialog in the scene where Elliott strongly disagrees with her future self that she’s unkind to their mother: “But I’m so nice to, Mom. I literally let her talk to me for 45 minutes about hummingbirds”. Now, if that ain’t love, I don’t know what is. And, expressed exactly in the way a teenager, particularly this teenager, would view thoughtfulness.
I enjoyed My Old Ass, more for its parts than as a whole. I thought the story ended prematurely. It could have benefited from a narrative structure that fleshed out the story premise and strengthened plot logic. For example, I found myself wondering why was it 39-year old Elliott who appeared to teen-aged Elliot. Was this appearance part of 39-year old Elliott’s “current” grief process? Motivation provided for future Elliott’s character would have added emotional resonance and thematic depth (for me).
Still, for what it was, a coming of age story, My Old Ass was entertaining. Worth the watch.
Thanks for your insightful comment. Love your take on this film.
Thank you for the feedback