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Review: In ‘My Old Ass,’ an uncertain teen speaks to her future self, with wry two-way wisdom

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Review: In 'My Old Ass,' an uncertain teen speaks to her future self, with wry two-way wisdom

As a seasoned movie enthusiast with decades of life under my belt, I must say that Megan Park’s “My Old Ass” struck a chord deep within me. The film’s premise, reminiscent of a cosmic game of “What If?”, resonated powerfully, especially given my own experiences navigating the labyrinth of life.

Megan Park’s movie “My Old Ass” is based around a common topic of conversation: If you could tell your younger self something, what would it be? In this story, written and directed by Park, the extraordinary happens to the character Elliott. At the ages of 18, played by Maisy Stella in her first film role, and 39, portrayed by Aubrey Plaza, Elliott experiences a unique occurrence where he receives advice from his older self.

On Elliott’s 18th birthday, the daughter of Canadian cranberry farmers, Elliott, took herself and her two closest friends, Ruthie (Maddie Ziegler) and Ro (Kerrice Brooks), on a boat ride to a tiny island in Lake Muskoka for a festive mushroom trip. As Ro danced the night away and Ruthie bonded with the rabbits, Elliott experienced a hallucination of her 39-year-old self, who offered advice – cherish your family time – and a caution: Stay away from Chad.

Elliott quickly encounters Chad (Percy Hynes White), a temporary worker at the cranberry farm whom she meets while swimming without clothes. Although Elliott is queer and has started a summer relationship with the local barista, Chad’s charm poses a challenge for her. However, he becomes hard to resist. Fortunately, she has Plaza’s “Old Ass” saved in her phone and uses texts and phone calls to seek advice from her future self during this challenging time of transition.

As a movie critic, I found “My Old Ass” to be a conventional yet captivating coming-of-age tale, cloaked in the glossy allure of a popular teen TV drama, with breathtaking aerial shots showcasing the picturesque Muskoka Lakes. The narrative, focusing on the crucial weeks preceding college departure, may seem familiar to those accustomed to young adult films. However, what sets it apart is its robust script for the genre, skillfully blending the saccharine and heartfelt with a streetwise, skater-queer-cool-kid vernacular that feels authentic, thanks to the convincing performances of both Stella and Plaza.

This movie not only delves into life’s profound lessons learned through experience and the bittersweet progression of time, a concept that appears elusive during adolescence but becomes strikingly familiar as one approaches middle age, reminiscing wistfully about the past – it feels so straightforward at 18, yet so intricate after a few years have passed.

Instead of wondering if she’s happy, Elliott should be asking her older self, who finds it difficult to respond, a more appropriate question might be “Is she at peace?” As time has shown, peace isn’t necessarily tied to possessions or achievements but rather the tranquility one can find in the present. Unfortunately, her 39-year-old self appears to be far from flourishing. She’s immersed in a meditation practice devised by Penelope Disick’s reality-TV offspring, and she drops cryptic warnings about the condition of the world she resides in.

However, during these brief weeks, they both discover that admonitions to steer clear of experiences that could cause us pain are futile. It’s the very possibility of hurt that intensifies beauty and makes it more cherished. The true lesson lies in appreciating everything we have, living gratefully, not dwelling on what might happen or has passed, but focusing on the here and now.

These ideas might not be groundbreaking discoveries, but they are deeply meaningful. They’re applicable to everyone because they hold truths that resonate, and Park skillfully conveys these lessons with authenticity and warmth in “My Old Ass.” This is largely thanks to the allure of her main character, Stella, who stands out as a unique and individualistic queer woman in this genre, often seen in casual shorts and Birkenstocks. Her portrayal of Elliott, even in her sarcastic teenage form, carries an honest earnestness.

Despite my older self yearning for deeper insight, perhaps due to the perspective gained with age, life often involves repeating certain lessons across generations. The young protagonist in this movie receives that lesson slightly ahead of schedule, while she’s still vibrant enough to truly grasp it in the moment. Quite a generous gift from an older perspective.

Katie Walsh is a Tribune News Service film critic.

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2024-09-14 00:31

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