Maisy Stella

Aubrey Plaza

Percy Hynes White

Maddie Ziegler

Kerrice Brooks

Maria Dizzia

Alain Goulem

Seth Isaac Johnson

Carter Trozzolo

Alexandria Rivera

Megan Park

Tom Ackerley

Margot Robbie

Steven M. Rales

Josey McNamara

Daniel Bekerman

Bronte Payne

Jennifer Vecchiarello

Zazu Myers

Tasha Goldthwait

Ashley Nay

Tyler Hilton

Douglas Aibel

David Gruer

Mathew Birtch

Andrew Deutschlander

Kristen Correll

Neil Mathieson

Vanessa Smith

Ciera Hearn

Sarah Campbell

Andrew Shea

Rebecca Reed

Bart Badzioch

Kaanchana Kerr

Joseph Racki

Angela Kosteski

Amy Szoke

Francis Andrew Butler

Mark Skinner

Stefana Fratila

Emilie Boucek

Stephen Barden

Thomas Hayek

Andre Kelman

Camille Kennedy

Dawn Lewis

Tess Moir

Steve Moore

Ehren Pfeifer

Mike Poisson

Lucas Roveda

Megan Edwards Stone

Robyn Buffett

Aaron Wright

Matthew Glasner

Jim Reeve

Christina Wood

Marissa Wong

Francesca Reid

Lesley Myers

Ali Moshref

Madison Helpert

Kyle Hanagami

Dave C. Hall

Daniel L. Goldenberg

Susan Love Foster

Avy Eschenasy

Rory Dann

Taylor Crowley

Kenny Bowman

Peter Singh

Consuelo Solar

Lisa Antonecchia

Scotty Taylor

Geoffrey Pope

Michael Kallin

Paul Intson

Neal Desby

Sean Coleman

Alex Ordanis

Darren Hinchy

Chris Dewolde

Gabi Arno

Alli Yeaton

Vanessa Williams

Tiffany Wheaton

Terra Stuart

Abby Shapiro

Chelsea Brathwaite

Robert Tagliaferri

Youssef Ben Rajeb

Josee Prud'Homme

Jassen Paradela

John Harbic

Jake Gilmour

Leila White

Iyi Tubi

Minas Kotsopoulos

Daniel Knight

Jeffrey King

Joel Chambers

Roy Savoy

Comedy

Drama

My Old Ass

Indian Paintbrush

LuckyChap Entertainment

United States of America

English

canada

women's sexual identity

time travel

romantic comedy

time

coming of age

magic mushroom

drug trip

lgbt teen

young love

woman director

time paradox

summer cottage

message from the future

lake house

woman centric

non-binary

lesbian

independent film

cranbrook

bisexual woman

teenager

cranberries

lesbian love

gay teenager

mind expansion

meeting your future self

family farm

family cottage

My Old Ass is a damn fun movie. It’s partly the fantastic, rapid-fire dialogue (the whole movie is a speedy treat, yet somehow chill at the same time). It’s partly the refreshingly natural look and feel of the characters – for example, Elliott’s hair's never perfect. It's not a "movie" looking movie. Maybe that’s why we felt more belief in this story than other “magical realism” films.

The concept is just so juicy – who wouldn’t want to know which pitfalls to avoid in their future? Who wouldn’t want to go back and give yourself the advice that nobody else (literally nobody) is equipped to give? But after that top layer of fun is peeled back, writer/director Megan Park asks us to ponder the delicate balance between life experience being a gift, and a burden.

Read more of our thoughts on MY OLD ASS at good.film: https://good.film/guide/life-going-nowhere-you-need-a-visit-from-my-old-ass

Brent Marchant

If you had the chance to speak with your future self, what would you discuss? That’s the opportunity unexpectedly presented to 18-year-old Elliott (Maisy Stella), the daughter of a Canadian cranberry farmer who’s about to leave her rural home to attend college in Toronto, a new chapter in her life that she anxiously awaits. To commemorate the occasion, Elliott and her two best friends (Kerrice Brooks, Maddie Ziegler) decide to celebrate by imbibing in festivities involving a brew of magic mushrooms. However, much to her surprise, while in her altered state of consciousness, Elliott meets her 39-year-old self (Aubrey Plaza), who provides the teen with an insightful look into her future. Much of their conversation focuses on things that her younger self could stand to work on, but, perhaps the most significant topic of discussion centers on a warning to avoid involvement with an as-yet-unmet young man named Chad (Percy Hynes White). Not long thereafter, though, Elliott meets this mysterious stranger, who just happens to be a field hand hired to work on the farm for the summer. She quickly becomes smitten with the charming newcomer and wonders why her elder self so vehemently cautions her from getting to know him, advice she promptly ignores. This, of course, raises many pertinent questions, such as must we obediently accept such supposedly prophetic proclamations as gospel? Is our future indeed written in stone? And, even if our destiny is allegedly unalterable, should we unquestioningly abide by any cautions associated with it, or should we follow our gut instincts even knowing what the consequences might be? These are among the themes thoughtfully addressed in writer-director Megan Park’s second feature, a sweet coming of age tale with a twist, one punctuated with gentle humor, heartfelt emotions, astute realizations and more than a few intriguing revelations. The picture is also beautifully filmed in the picturesque lake country surrounding Muskoka, Ontario, providing audiences with views of some spectacularly gorgeous scenery reminiscent of “On Golden Pond” (1981). However, despite these strengths, the film feels a little underdeveloped in several regards, particularly when it comes to various supporting characters and subplots, as well as some back story aspects of the elder Elliott’s future existence. Given this offering’s relatively short 1:29:00 runtime, it’s somewhat baffling why the filmmaker didn’t take a little extra time to more fully flesh out these elements (after all, it’s not like the picture is overlong or tiresomely tedious). Nevertheless, those shortcomings aside, “My Old Ass” is a pleasant, inoffensive way to spend some time at the movies watching an uplifting, enlightening little story that nicely warms the heart and tells a story with an earnest message about how to approach living our lives. And it’s hard to find much fault with that.

CinemaSerf

It's her eighteenth birthday and her "ET" loving parents are waiting with their cake for daughter "Elliott" (Maisy Stella). She's off with her pals though, camping out and drinking a particularly potent mushroom tea. Next thing, she finds herself sitting on a fireside log chatting to a thirty-nine year old version of herself (Aubrey Plaza). Hallucinating? Well yes, but somehow her older self manages to leave her a phone number and give her a little advice about her future with the as yet unknown "Chad". Next day she's doing a bit of skinny dipping and guess who she meets? There's the semblance of a spark, but up until now "Elliott" was a confirmed lesbian and armed with the portentous advice from her own future, concludes it's best to avoid the lad. Can she, though? Should she? Auteur Megan Park has worked this really quite entertainingly as she uses the character of "Elliott" to illustrate the selfishness of youth. Taking family and friends for granted, thinking we know it all and that nobody else could ever hope to understand us. The lively interaction between the two women and, ultimately, with the young man might just serve to open her eyes to the joys of being who she is and of looking forward to her future - even when she knows that it's going to be a bumpy ride. It poses the question to us all. If we knew that the life that we were about to embark upon was doomed to failure, would we still follow those impulses or might we heed the warnings and just play it safe? Stella plays her role engagingly and the few scenes with the sylphlike young "Chad" (Percy Hynes White) have a certain humorous charm to them too. Sure, it does play to a few stereotypes but sometimes these resonate more than we might like them to. It's maybe not a cinema film, but it's way better than your usual teenage angst movie, and worth a watch.

<em>'My Old Ass'</em> is very cute. It features an impressive Maisy Stella performance, too.

The lead is honestly great throughout, the type that is so convincing that it barely feels like you're watching someone act; Stella is particularly good when it comes to her character's more emotional side. Elsewhere, Aubrey Plaza doesn't appear terribly much but still manages to leave a mark - she's always a person I enjoy seeing act.

Obviously it isn't a perfect movie or anything, one or two bits of dialogue are a little iffy and the ending is a tad rushed (?) and easy to predict. Don't get me wrong, though, I'm not actually criticising this as I really enjoyed the whole 90 or so minutes. Amusing. Sweet. Recommended.

Does the My Old Ass Cast Really Know Each Other?

Maddie Ziegler, Maisy Stella, and Kerrice Brooks Unbox the Plot of My Old Ass

Young Elliott Meets Old Elliott

Meet Elliott (Maisy Stella), the teenager who meets her older self in MY OLD ASS

Aubrey Plaza watches Maisy Stella while she sleeps - MY OLD ASS interview

MY OLD ASS actors Aubrey Plaza and Maisy Stella try their best British accents.

Featurette

Interview with Maisy Stella

"My Old Ass" filmmaker Megan Park

How To Write Dialogue For Young People - My Old Ass Q&A

In Conversation with MY OLD ASS Filmmakers Megan Park, Kristen Correll and Bronte Payne

UK Spot

Official Trailer

Maisy Stella talks My Old Ass at Sundance London

My Old Ass( 2024)

What would you ask your older self?

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A review by good.film

Written by good.film on Wed Sep 25 2024

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