My Old Ass is a coming-of-age comedy-drama film that is set to be released in 2024, written and directed by Megan Park. The film touches on some of the most fundamental existential questions faced by adolescents, such as: Who am I? Who do I want to be? and If I had the opportunity to encounter my future self, would I accept his or her counsel or would I choose to disregard it? The film is set to the picturesque backdrop of the Muskoka region, located in Ontario which lends its lakeside beauty to the narrative.
In this film, star Maisy Stella makes her debut as a feature film actress, portraying 18-year-old Elliott who is an adventurous young woman who is preparing to venture into adulthood. Her older version, age 39, is played by Aubrey Plaza. Blending humor, heartache, and surreal elements into one of the most original coming-of-age stories in years, My Old Ass serves as a tribute to the wonderful, alarming, and confusing transformation from adolescence into adulthood.
Elliott is an emotionally complex 18-year old who is about to go off to college, and spends her last summer before getting to the new school working on her family’s cranberry farm. She has a tight knit group of friends which includes Ruthie and Ro, and has a platonic flirtation with an old crush, Chelsea, who she is still infatuated with. While her parents are suggesting in a softer tone that she needs to grow up and really start thinking about her future, in reality, she is more concerned about making the most of the time she has left as a teenager.
The celebration of Elliott turning 18 with friends included a camping trip deep into the woods. The trip also included the consumption of hallucinogenic mushrooms. While under the influence, she had a very ridiculous dream where she met her older self at 39. She referred to it as “her old ass.” Older Elliott, played by Aubrey Plaza, calls her self “younger self” and tells her to. “Cherish your time with your family…and stay away from Chad,” adding wise remarks to her younger self.
The advice is bewildering by itself, but is turned on its head when Elliott meets Chad after coming home. A remarkably good looking and nice farmhand who works for her dad. Elliott is further confused when she starts to fall in love with Chad.
This allows for an emotional struggle between one’s prewriting and one’s agency. Should Elliott listen to the advice of someone who’s literally been through it all? Or does she follow what her heart tells her, even when it leads to heart-wrenching pain?
Characters& Performances
Maisy Stella as Elliott
Stella outshines everyone else in her feature debut. Her performance is breathtakingly effortless. She strikes that delicate balance between teenage exuberance and growing self-awareness with perfection. It’s refreshing to see such genuine emotion from an actor. Elliot is relatable because she feels fully lived-in.
Aubrey Plaza as Older Elliot
As the older version of Elliot, Plaza is brilliantly in character. The best contours of the younger one stem from the older version. She is simultaneously comedic and deeply contemplative, allowing her to deliver sharp one-liners as well as moments filled with quiet emotional gravity. Stella and Plaza share an undeniable chemistry that drives the film’s success. Their interactions are charged with a bizarre, sibling-like tension that is unique and so special, their scenes together are that way.
Percy Hynes White as Chad
Chad is the perfect romantic ideal, making him the ideal candidate for Elliot’s deepest conundrum. As charming, funny, and meloudramatic as he can get, White’s representation of the character gives him genuine depth. His performance evokes a certain tenderness, so he does not feel like just another love interest. Rather, he helps the audience brace themselves for the whirlwind that is Elliot, creating understanding in the midst of concern.
Maddie Ziegler and Kerrice Brooks as Ruthie and Ro
The Ziegler and Brooks duo is as charming as they are down to earth. Their friendship scenes are playful, humorous, and surprisingly authentic, as only teenage girls understand what it feels like to be on the precipice of drastic changes in their lives.
Direction and Cinematic Style
Park’s direction is hands-off yet attentive and observant. After directing The Fallout, Park again tackles the complex inner world of young women with a refreshing uncomfortable blend of tenderness and comedy. Unlike most coming-of-age films, My Old Ass is not driven by ominous conflict, action-packed scenarios, or excessive emotionalism. Rather, its pacing is driven by growth and deeply felt feelings.
The film is visually stunning. Correll, the Director of Photography, captures the small-town life under the soft golden light of summer and the wild beauty of the Muskoka lakes. The magic of the film is the soft focus of the story’s timeless and dream-like quality.
The conversation is fast-paced and emotionally truthful at the same time while taking witty overtone. Whether characters indulge in jarring exchanges or calm asides, Park gives voice to the paradox of leaving the cozy confines of youth for the great unknown.
Thematic Analysis and Interpretation
Ultimately, My Old Ass is a film about choice and examines the classic time-travel predicament: would you still take risks if you knew what the future had in store for you? Elliott’s journey does not focus on a pain-free life, but rather learning how to incorporate understanding into her development.
The film also looks into the following ideas:
Love and trust in one’s self: The emotion behind each scene speaks of self-discovery, Allow me to expand on this through Elliott’s growing relationship with Chad. Her resistance to future-Elliot’s warnings highlights the reality that some lessons are best learned firsthand. Heartbreak is part of life. The film does not romanticize it; it simply acknowledges it.
The fear of adulting: Relatable to some is the combination her one foot out the door and one foot left in the room. With the cranberry farm being sold, Elliott leaving for college, and her wanting to savor the moment now serves as the fear of change. The film embodies the bittersweet feeling of a summer that marks a significant ending.
Conclusion
My Old Ass is a Sundance-winning comedy that masterfully pays tribute to the teenage experience and growing up. This film encapsulates the issues of modernity beautifully, and it stands as a reminder that the importance of youthful desires and sentiments should never be underestimated. With an astonishing performance by Maisy Stella and a deeply empathetic script from Megan Park, My Old Ass succeeds in making us laugh, ponder, and even send a message to our younger selves if that was possible.
This film does not offer solutions about love, destiny, or one’s personality. Rather, it accepts the gray area that comes with maturing- how we are becoming is not just a haphazard exercise, but an unfurling of emotions, risks, and, in many cases, unrequested guidance and wisdom.
Ultimately, for all those who appreciate stories with adolescent touch, crackling emotions, and a fantasy element mixed in, My Old Ass is a crown jewel. It is rewarding in every sense of the word, and will most certainly linger in your thoughts for long after the credits begin rolling.
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