My Old Ass
My Old Ass
Starring Maisy Stella, Aubrey Plaza, Percy Hynes White, Maria Dizzia
Directed by Megan Park
Elliott Labrant (Maisy Stella) just turned eighteen and is about to leave her farming family for college in Toronto, with a desire to never take up the family business. She goes to an abandoned island with her two best friends and do mushrooms, where she hallucinates talking to her older self (Aubrey Plaza), who gives her some sound advice - spend time with the family, focus on the now, and, most importantly, stay away from anyone named Chad. Thinking it was just a trip, she returns home and gets back to normal, but then she actually meets a Chad (Percy Hynes White) who's working for her family for the summer, and she begins to think that it was more than just a trip.
Then she gets a call from her future self, and learns that it was indeed reality, somehow, and her older self continues giving her advice - especially staying away from Chad at all costs. Yet she continues to grow closer to him, and wonders why her older self wants her to stay away when he seems so perfect - and along the way she learns about her family and bonds with her brothers and parents in deeper, more meaningful ways, leading her to reconsider her life choices and value the time she has right now.
"My Old Ass" is a great story that uses comedy to get its point across - and boy does it ever. We're reminded of our childhood memories and how we wanted so badly to grow up that we often missed the moments that make life special, such as spending time with the family while we lived with them, hanging out with our friends doing mindless things, and even falling in love for the first time. Young Elliott is a great stand-in for us at that age, as Maisy Stella has this youthful personality that makes you connect with her deeply and really care for the character, even if she's a bit rough around the edges. She's not a bad girl by any stretch of the imagination, and thankfully the family unit isn't fractured or dysfunctional as you'd expect from movies like this. You can tell they all genuinely love one another, and Elliott just wants to leave and strike out on her own without ill will toward her family, which is refreshing to see, and makes her more enjoyable as a character. There's no bad guys there, and its heartwarming to see how the family connects to one another.
Aubrey Plaza shines as the older Elliott who, unlike the trailer suggests, isn't in the movie all that much (so if you're going in expecting a Plaza explosion, be prepared to be disappointed by that fact). She uses her deadpan humor to full effect, but also showcases a deep, emotional core that will have you tearing up by the end (I know I was). As she gives life advice to her younger self, you can see how the world has warped her once youthful innocence, and you can't help but wonder why.
That "why" comes in the form of the film's main mystery: why does Elliott have to avoid Chad? It seems the older Elliott is dead-set on having her younger self not get involved with him, but Chad seems like a great guy - he's helpful, funny, sweet, kind, caring, and compassionate. The younger Elliott can't find a single flaw with him, which only exasperates her frustration when her older self won't tell her why she can't see him. It's puzzling, but when the pieces come together it's utterly shattering. Percy Hynes White excels as Chad, giving a great performance mixed with the rest of the stellar cast.
While the older Elliott imparts her wisdom, the younger has some life lessons as well, which really speaks to all of us: if we're not young and dumb we wouldn't be brave enough to do anything. Talk about a resounding message! For anyone who thinks there's no originality in Hollywood, "My Old Ass" is something you need to see. It's powerful and thought provoking, wrapped in a comedic film that allows you to let your guard down and really soak up the message it tells.
The Score: A+
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