One of the most-streamed movies of autumn 2024 is a comparatively understated coming-of-age film with an SF/Fantasy premise. It also features Aubrey Plaza, and, despite positive reviews, has ignited a side-controversy.
Title: My Old Ass
Cast and Crew
Written and directed by Megan Park
Maisy Stella as Elliott, age 18
Aubrey Plaza as Elliott, age 39
Percy Hynes White as Chad
Maddie Ziegler as Ruthie
Kerrice Brooks as Ro
Maria Dizzia as Kathy (Mom)
Alain Goulem as Tom (Dad)
Seth Isaac Johnson as Max
Alexandria Rivera as Chelsea
Carter Trozzolo as Spencer
Premise
While camping her friends on her eighteenth birthday, a young woman (Maisy Stella) encounters her timewarped 39-year-old self (Aubrey Plaza). Future self tells her to spend more time with her parents and brothers, drops a few hints about the future– and issues a critical warning.
High Points
It’s misleading to state that the film costars Maisy Stella and Aubrey Plaza. Aubrey Plaza appears to have done about two days of shooting and some voiceover work. That said, she rocks the role, and the film is worth seeing for those scenes. She doesn’t look that much like Maisy Stella (a fact which the film lampshades), but they’re credibly playing the same person at different stages in her life. Maisy Stella, meanwhile, can stand beside Plaza, and she carries the rest of the movie. Her first feature film appearance promises much for her future.
Low Point
The supporting characters serve their purpose and the actors do well, but they could have been better-developed.
The Scores:
Originality: 3/6 The basic premises have been used before, but the film manages a few fresh twists.
Effects: 4/6 This isn’t an effects film, though we get a few trippy elements and one highly entertaining production number. Even if you don’t like Justin Bieber (I am not a fan), the scene works.
Production: 5/6 The film’s cinematography highlights the Muskoka region of Ontario, Canada. If you’re not local and you haven’t visited, you last saw it in a couple episodes of The Expanse. The region plays itself here, capturing its natural beauty and rural Canadian essence.
Thankfully, not all rural Ontario communities resemble Letterkenny.
Acting: 5/6
Story: 5/6 More might have been done with the premise. However, the film runs about an hour and a half, making it worth the time investment.
Emotional Response: 5/6 Having viewed almost no publicity before seeing My Old Ass, it took me very much by surprise. I really like the casual nature of both its Canadian and queer elements. It could have taken place in, say, Wareham, Massachusetts instead of Muskoka, Ontario. Some of the cultural/geographical elements would differ a little (and be less interesting to me), but the story would remain the same. And Elliot, technically, did not have to be queer. Changing her sexuality certainly would alter some much-discussed aspects of the story, but you would still have a version of this movie. Elliot’s sexuality isn’t the entire point of her character.
The issues, once we finally realize what this film is about, are common to humanity.
Overall: 6/6 Yes, the film has SF/F elements, but most of it consists of an understated coming-of-age story with heart and homespun wisdom. It also does not rely on a pop soundtrack (there’s one concession, and it’s hilarious) or over-rely on crude jokes (comparatively speaking, especially given the cheeky title. There is, however, a fair bit of crude language).
This is no Safety Not Guaranteed, but it’s worth seeing.
In total, My Old Ass ) receives 33/42
*If anyone wants, I’ll post a rant overview of the controversy. Be warned, however: there will be no way to read it without encountering spoilers, and it may unbalance your viewing of the film. Most people I know, regardless of orientation, did not read the film in the “controversial” manner– a manner which I consider a gross misreading of what we see on screen.