Film: My Old Ass Review

I’m sure I’ve said this before, but I’m a sucker for coming-of-age movies. I believe the guidance learned by the characters in these movies isn’t just for the intended young age range of its viewers. Throughout these genre movies, there are gentle reminders that as adults, we get too caught up in adulting and forget to be playful in life. There are several of these genre films in the last decade that have resonated with me, but none more than Megan Park’s new film My Old Ass.

In My Old Ass, Elliott (Maisy Stella) intends to make the most of her last summer at home before heading off to college, which includes a mushroom trip with her two best friends, Ruthie (Maddie Ziegler) and Ro (Kerrie Brooks). The night doesn’t quite turn out as expected, as Elliott’s trip includes a visit from her future self, Older Elliott (Aubrey Plaza). The trip seems to mysteriously continue as Older Elliott finds a way to stay in contact with her younger self. Against her initial hesitance, Older Elliott decides to dish out guidance she has learned from her life. It’s up to Elliot to determine which lessons are worth learning from her old ass and which should be ignored.

My Old Ass seems to take the phrase, ‘youth is wasted on the young and wisdom is wasted on the old’ to a whole new level. It poses the question, what if you could know then what you know now? It sounds like a tempting thought, who wouldn’t want to erase the mistakes or missteps of youth? But what My Old Ass does, in a wonderful way, is make you question whether or not that’s a good idea. Sure, there are things in our past that deserve to be seen with fresh eyes, but then there are other situations that make you who you are in their failure. My Old Ass, in a way, reminds us that the stupidity and naivety of our youth was exactly what we needed as adults.

I think the best movies are the ones you learn a little from, the ones that help you become a better person, and for me, it’s My Old Ass. While we can’t have our old ass visit us in a Force Ghost way like a Jedi, maybe My Old Ass can serve as a substitute. Our life’s journey is supposed to bring us to places we are meant to be, even if that journey starts with us talking to our future selves on a mushroom trip in the woods.

And who doesn’t love the idea of having your old ass being played by Plaza, the best cynical representation of life. To be transparent, she’s the main reason I wanted to see this movie. Initially, that is, because now I’m obsessed with Stella. I don’t know where she came from, but she’s brilliant. Not only did she match Plaza’s energy, but she also brought some elements of her own that Plaza could play off of. Her wit and heart were perfect for this type of film. It’s not easy blending free spirit with apathy, but Stella does it endearingly. 

It’s not only the main cast who shines, it’s the supporting cast that adds the right sparkle to make this film special. Besides Ziegler and Brooks being the best of friends any teen-adult could ask for, Percy Hynes White as the avoided love interest was perfect. The more you are around Chad the more you question what was going on between future Elliot and Chad. 

Overall, though, this movie was just enjoyable. The concept has been explored before, but My Old Ass does it in a fresh way that makes everything interesting. Unlike some other marketed girl’s night movies, this is one you want to experience with friends, bonus if you go with friends who were your high school besties. Just as in life, this journey is worth having.

The best part of watching coming-of-age films as an adult is that you fully understand the lessons taught. Even though I’m closer in age to Older Elliott than Elliott, I am reminded that life still has time to be lived. My Old Ass struck a cord, and I can’t wait to watch it again.

My Old Ass opens nationwide Friday, September 13th.

Written by Lisa M Mejia
Images provided by Amazon Studios