‘My Old Ass,’ A Review
Megan Park, commonly known for playing Grace Bowman in The Secret Life of the American Teenager (2013), harbors a secret talent herself: independent film director and writer. She marked her directorial debut with The Fallout, a 2022 coming-of-age drama that follows two high school students (Jenna Ortega and Maddie Ziegler) in the aftermath of a school shooting. The Fallout marked a pivotal point in Park’s career, putting her on the map as more than just an actor and proving once again, that she’s a force to be reckoned with.
Park continues to produce high quality and thought-provoking work, especially with her most recent coming-of-age film, an irreverent romantic comedy, starring Maisy Stella and Aubrey Plaza. In My Old Ass (2024), Park brilliantly highlights the intricacies of adolescence, the fears of growing up and the courage to live in the moment.
My Old Ass offers independent film lovers a unique and somewhat dry sense of humor, while simultaneously paying homage to the contemporary language that authentically represents today’s generation.
What is it About?
*contains some spoilers*
My Old Ass mirrors the classic time-travel-type comedies we grew up loving, like 17 Again (2009) and 13 Going on 30 (2004), where the main characters magically transform into a younger or older version of themselves, in an effort to learn some overarching lesson.
In My Old Ass, Maisy Stella leads a powerful ensemble of actors, as Elliot LeBrant, an 18-year-old sexually fluid teenager on the cusp of adulthood.
On her 18th birthday, Elliot decides to celebrate by getting high on mushrooms with her two best friends, Ro (Kerrice Brooks) and Ruthie (Maddie Ziegler). They camp out somewhere in the woods and ingest a concoction of herbal mushroom tea. Their hallucinogen trip takes an unexpected turn when Elliot encounters her future self: a 39-year-old jaded and outwardly cynical version of who she used to be.
Aubrey Plaza shines as Older Elliot, with that dry humor and signature dead-pan voice we have all come to know so well. In an effort to protect her from the harsh realities of life, Older Elliot continues to guide her younger self by advising her to spend more time with family and avoid a certain person (by the name of Chad) who will only bring her grief in later years.
In the span of 90-minutes, younger and older Elliot remain in contact via phone calls and voicemails that support the trajectory of their story.
A Social Commentary
My Old Ass is accessorized with wit and a cheeky flare that authentically represents the language of today’s youth. Likewise, it speaks to today’s generation and how certain people might view the world through a different lens.
In a film that draws our attention to sexually fluid characters, we can begin to see adaptive qualities in the entertainment industry by the way that a movie (like this one) merges shifting outlooks and intertwines them in their creative projects.
At the end of the day, film reflects life and will continue (on some level) to also reflect the changes we progressively see, greatly amplifying the themes we find in movies and the varying subject matters that pertain to its characters.
Where was My Old Ass Filmed?
The vast majority of My Old Ass was filmed in Ontario, Canada, by the Lake Muskoka region, where Elliot’s parents own and tend to a reputable cranberry farm.
Park draws our attention to the beautiful scenery and vast landscapes of the Lake Muskoka region. We are met with a quaint aesthetic and a peaceful cottage-looking vibe.
Bright tones, warm lighting and nature-colored pallets fill the screen, especially in scenes that showcase a younger Elliot (Stella). Contrary to this, dimmer shades are used when Older Elliot (Plaza) re-appears, strategically juxtaposing the naiveness of her youth and the skepticism of who she’s become, in the present.
My Old Ass Streaming
The movie premiered in January of 2024 at the famous Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. It released in theaters later that year, for a limited time.
My Old Ass is currently streaming and you can now watch it on Amazon Prime.
An Unlikely Summer Romance
Coming-of-age films wholeheartedly depict the angst and the (often times) confusing feelings that surface when we begin to transition away from adolescence and catapult ourselves into adulthood.
With only a few weeks left before heading off to college, Elliot embarks on an unlikely summer romance and discovers a part of herself she never knew was there. Sometimes unexpected circumstances can lead us to the most beautiful outcomes.
In My Old Ass, we’re reminded how unpredictable our younger years can be. Sometimes, when we think we have it all figured out, life offers us a new perspective… abruptly changing the way we view ourselves and the world around us.
My Old Ass is a beautiful tribute to adolescence. In a movie where a character looks to her future for answers, we’re reminded that sometimes the best answer we can get, is by living in the present.
The rest? Time will tell.
