My Old Ass is a wild, genre-bending adventure directed by Megan Park, blending stoner comedy, sci-fi, melodrama, and even a hint of Hallmark-style sentimentality. Park’s sophomore film, following her thoughtful debut The Fallout, offers a more absurdist take on adolescence — this time with time travel, a picturesque lake town, and the ever-charming Aubrey Plaza.
The film centres on Elliot (Maisy Stella), a small-town teen in her last summer before heading off to college, and her older, time-traveling self (Plaza), who comes back to offer guidance and support.
The Muskoka, Ontario, setting gives the movie a postcard-level charm, creating a perfect contrast with the sillier moments of the film, where pansexual stoner vibes and time-bending high jinks come into play.
While it flirts with surrealism, Park’s film manages to avoid falling into outright chaos. Instead, it uses its more bizarre elements, like Plaza’s effortlessly offbeat energy, to anchor the emotional beats.
Plaza’s presence could have been distracting, as she often brings an air of self-awareness to her roles. Here, though, her aloofness serves as a counterbalance to young Elliot’s more earnest teen angst. Together, they create a compelling dynamic that lends the film depth.
Where My Old Ass falters slightly is in its reliance on clichéd tropes, particularly the inclusion of Elliot’s best friend Ro (played by Kerrice Brooks) whose role in the story never quite gets fleshed out beyond being a sounding board for Elliot’s emotional arc.
For his part, Percy Hynes White delivers a confident and charm laden performance as Elliot’s new love interest, Chad, a boy she is warned off against by her older self.
This is a disarmingly delightful slumber-party movie with a heart— delivering tears, laughs, and plenty of chaotic energy. It leans hard into melodrama at times, but it taps into that raw, unapologetic wave of emotions that teens often experience as they stand at the precipice of adulthood.
My Old Ass may be an absurd title, but its exploration of identity, time, and youthful confusion has enough authenticity to hit home. Megan Park is clearly having fun mixing and matching genres, and while not every element sticks perfectly, the ride is an enjoyable one. It’s a film that will likely find its audience among those who appreciate a good cry, some stoner antics, and a generous dose of sci-fi weirdness all wrapped in a cozy, Canadian lake town package.
Amazon MGM Studios’ MY OLD ASS will be in cinemas in the UK and Ireland on the 27th of September, 2024
