Magical realism makes a welcome return to the big screen in Amazon MGM Studios’ My Old Ass starring Aubrey Plaza and Maisy Stella. High-concept plots that rely heavily on emotional connections more than mere science were plentiful in 90s films such as Alfonso Arau’s Like Water For Chocolate. A strong cast and sincere writing, alongside lazy-breezy endless summer vibes, conjure up an endearing, if somewhat overlong (even at 89 minutes) indie tale pitting self-care versus storybook romance.
On the evening of her 18th birthday, Elliott (Stella) with her besties Ro (Kerrice Brooks) and Ruthie (Maddie Ziegler) celebrate with a bag of shrooms leading to more than just wacky hallucinations. Later, alone by a crackling fire, optimistic teen Elliott meets wisecracking middle-aged Elliott (Plaza.) Sadly, this version of herself has not come to tell her what tech companies to invest in. Instead the titular “my old ass” has one goal: to stop her (self) from dating a dude named Chad. It shouldn’t be a problem since Elliott has only dated women. Wouldn’t ya know it, with only 22 days left of summer, she meets a tall drink of water named Chad (Percy Hynes White from Netflix’s Wednesday). Elliott may have to rethink everything about her family, life, and love. Still, if she can FaceTime with her future self, this should be easy-peasy, right?
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Writer/director Megan Park’s second feature (following 2021’s The Fallout) feels like the kind of movie pitch that screams to be greenlit as an indie but it’s also the work of a filmmaker that spent years acting. I have no idea what the filming was like but the relaxed performances of the bulk of the cast (the exception being Plaza’s understandably bigger performance) feels lived-in without being staid. Every line of dialogue has purpose as well as nice casual tone. Too many times coming-of-age tales go too broad. The relief of watching My Old Ass is to experience a story not really interested in types. I’ve never seen The Fallout which starred Jenna Ortega and Maddie Ziegler but I definitely want to now.
Park’s script smartly has no interest in how exactly a young teen can suddenly communicate with her older self. Like the best magical realism tales the focus is more on how the situation affects the emotional and psychological state of the characters. Getting a text from “My Old Ass” is just simply happening.
Although Aubrey Plaza shares half the poster (see below) with Stella it should be noted her screen time is somewhat minimal. To be fair, there are plenty of texting and phone calls between the two Elliott’s but this is by no means a two-hander like that other feature opening this week in which two actresses play the same person, The Substance. Might I suggest a double-feature?
Through only a few locations set on the east coast Elliott’s last days of summer are also her last days of being a teen. To the script’s credit, she might be learning a lot from her older self but she pushes back too. Hindsight maybe be 20/20 but even a literal version of oneself doesn’t make truth bombs any easier to accept.
My Old Ass is being released at the right time. Just as our own summer has ended, thoughts quickly turn to the fall season and last minute Halloween attire. I might not know how to dress as future Peter but Elliott sure does. But will she? Can she at least try walking a mile in those worn out boots to see if it’s a perfect fit? Or better, can one look back at their younger self and smile instead of nitpicking the past?
My Old Ass is now playing in select theaters and expands wider September 27.
