MY OLD ASS
FOUR STARS 19 year old Elliott conjures up her 39 year old self who has some advice on navigating adulthood.
COMEDY DRAMA US English #MYOLDASS
Starring Maisy Stella, Aubrey Plaza
For 19 year old Elliott (Maisy Stella), the future can’t come quickly enough. She’s done with school, about to escape her small town and leave her family for good. Before then, on an overnight camping trip with her two best friends she takes mushrooms and unexpectedly conjures up her 39 year old self (Aubrey Plaza), her ‘old ass’. Well, you wouldn’t expect it, would you?
Like an invisible Jimmy Cricket, older Elliott doles out some advice on navigating the next twenty years. Tips include being nice to your annoying brother, be kind to your mother and above all, avoid a guy called Chad.
There’s an enormous amount to like about this whimsical charmer from writer/director Megan Park, not the least is the upfront acknowledgement that logic has taken a back seat. Accept that and all that follows is a delight as Elliott charts her way to early adult hood. Foremost among many pleasures is the lack of spite and aggression in the narrative, a rare treat in a teen-targeted, coming-of-age story whose central theme is about being kind; to friends, to family, to yourself.
What might sound like a bile-inducing Hallmark movie is quite the opposite. Park has crafted a smart, sassy comedy that gets to the anxious nub of any life-changing moments and is hugely relatable for anyone aged 19, 39 or 59. Take the problem called Chad - turns out he’s a really nice guy. Like, really nice. Yes there’s already Elliott’s hot girlfriend but maybe there’s room for both in her bi/pan/whatever-sexual if she can work out why her old ass told her to avoid Chad in the first place. And we’ve all been there.
MY OLD ASS is something of a breakout film for Park, Stella, Percy Hynes White (as Chad) and the always compelling Plaza. Everyone has an opportunity to shine within the bright, tight 90 minute runtime and all of them rise to the challenge. Like THE BREAKFAST CLUB did for its generation, MY OLD ASS has everything it takes to become a touchstone movie for its own generation. Don’t be put off by the title (not great) and enjoy the trip.
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