My Old Ass

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2024’s underrated film “My Old Ass” is gaining traction on Prime Video. This second movie by writer-director Megan Park currently ranks at number seven on the U.S. charts, as reported by the streaming service. The movie features Maisy Stella making her film debut and Aubrey Plaza, who not only starred in “My Old Ass” last year but also appeared in “Agatha All Along” and “Megalopolis”.

Back in January 2024, my old movie, titled so humorously, made its first appearance at Sundance. It was quickly acquired by Amazon for distribution. Upon its release on Amazon Prime Video, the film skyrocketed to the top spot in the U.S. within no time. Now, it’s back up the ranks, and deservedly so: As of now, My Old Ass boasts a 90% critical rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with an audience score of 89%.

The movie presents a fresh perspective within the coming-of-age genre, brimming with humor and emotional depth in its character interactions. According to the summary, here’s what it’s about:

In this newly-released coming-of-age tale, an 18th birthday psychedelic trip with mushrooms leads free-spirited character Elliott (portrayed by Stella) to encounter her witty 39-year-old counterpart played by Plaza. However, when Elliott’s older self begins offering advice on what younger Elliott should and shouldn’t do, Elliott comes to understand that she needs to reassess everything related to family, romance, and the transformative events of that summer.

In essence, both Stella and Plaza deliver exceptional performances in their assigned roles, despite having distinct physical appearances. This disparity actually strengthens the film’s narrative, as it underscores the concept that we transform greatly as individuals over time. The delightful camaraderie between Stella and Plaza adds credibility to this idea, making the audience perceive a bond between them that seems genuine due to their long-standing friendship off-screen.

‘My Old Ass’ Deserves its High Praise and Viewership

One significant topic explored in “My Old Ass” is the complex nature of human attraction, particularly sexuality. Initially, Elliott assumes herself to be exclusively gay, but her perspective shifts dramatically upon encountering Chad (Percy Hynes White), a person her older self advises her to avoid. This captivating narrative subtly explores and endorses the idea that our physical attractions can be fluid, showing how just one individual can confound one’s sexual identity.

Nevertheless, the query persists: if Elliott finds Chad, who is both kind and compassionate as well as good-looking and charismatic, appealing, why does she feel compelled to keep her distance from him so strongly? It appears that he may bring about some form of emotional turmoil, but the nature of it remains unclear. This dilemma ultimately forms the core theme of the film, as MovieWeb’s Julian Roman points out in his review.

The delightful moments of youth are often overshadowed by hardship. It’s unavoidable to experience sorrow, pain, and loss. They become integral parts of our lives. Elliott sought to protect herself from despair by creating a path free from it. However, this is an impossible task as Park’s tale illustrates. Tears will fall when Elliott comprehends what was concealed, and her courageous decisions following the shocking truth.

Despite receiving widespread critical acclaim and touching storylines, it’s surprising that My Old Ass didn’t seem to make many year-end lists or get recognized by awarding bodies. Fortunately, it’s now finding the audience on Amazon Prime Video that it truly merits.

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2025-01-30 22:36