My Old Ass
Megan Park’s follow-up to The Fallout is a fantasy coming-of-age film about living in the moment, which is elevated by Maisy Stella’s authentic performance
Writer-director Megan Park captures the secret life of a Canadian teenager in My Old Ass, a sentimental sci-fi comedy set across the breathtaking Muskoka Lakes of Ontario. During a mushroom trip on her 18th birthday, Elliott Labrant (Maisy Stella) gets more than she bargained for when she has a close encounter with her 39-year-old, overprotective self (played by Aubrey Plaza). Older Elliott has a warning for her teen counterpart: steer clear of a boy named Chad (Percy Hynes White).
This generational battle of the selves isn't the most daring entry in the time-travelling canon but it holds an emotional payoff that doesn’t disappoint. As sweet and tangy as the cranberries Elliott’s family harvest on their farm, Park’s summery ode to being young and dumb instils nostalgia for the simple things. However, there’s more than supernatural saccharine at play here; My Old Ass thrives in the frank, horny banter between the two Elliotts.
A welcome breather from Plaza’s usual roles, her Elliott harbours vulnerability and a dash of insecurity under the sarcasm we’ve come to expect from her, yet the movie remains Stella’s show. She moves effortlessly across lighthearted and more dramatic tones, with her self-assured, likeable screen presence making the bonkers premise worth investing in.
Come for Plaza and Stella’s tender chemistry, and stay for an honest conversation about queerness that challenges expectations around identity, sex and love. This may be the best element about My Old Ass, together with the most creative use of a Justin Bieber song you’ll see on film.
Released 27 Sep by Curzon; certificate 15