What happens when your 18th birthday gift is a glimpse at your 39-year-old self? In My Old Ass, director Megan Park answers that question with a quirky, heartfelt dramedy that feels like Freaky Friday got high on existential dread and camped out on a Canadian cranberry farm.
Maisy Stella stars as Elliott, a wide-eyed teen on the verge of adulthood, itching to escape her family’s rural life. Her big day kicks off with a magic mushroom mishap that doesn’t just alter her reality—it smacks her with it. Enter Aubrey Plaza as Elliott’s 39-year-old self, a character who perfectly balances “wise beyond her years” with “comically unimpressed by youth.” Plaza’s trademark deadpan is as sharp as ever, but here it’s laced with a vulnerability that deepens the film’s emotional core.
The chemistry between Stella and Plaza is electric, like watching two parts of the same soul in a tug-of-war. Plaza’s older Elliott isn’t there to sugarcoat the future, nor does she wallow in regret. Instead, she’s the uninvited, brutally honest houseguest you didn’t know you needed. Percy Hynes White portrays Chad, a love interest who’s equal parts charming and clueless, offering some much-needed levity amid all the introspection.
By daring to listen to her instincts—whether it’s pursuing love, adventure, or simply the courage to leave—Elliott learns that following your heart isn’t about avoiding mistakes; it’s about trusting that those mistakes will shape you into the person you’re meant to become. Through a late twist that will pull on your heartstrings, My Old Ass will remind you to love hard and savor every experience before it’s gone for good.
RHFC Rating: 8/10 🍿
