Megan Park’s ‘My Old Ass’ is Special to Me
It’s natural to dwell on the past, replaying specific moments that we could have done differently. We all have choices that we look back on not so fondly and think, “I was young and dumb”. Sometimes we get caught up in what we want to change and forget that the decisions we made then made us the person we are today. Sure, I am only thirty but I still think back to many choices my younger self made and think, “Maybe I could have done that differently.” However, would that one decision would have made a difference in the end? Would things have been different or would they pan out the same way (with some minor tweaks)? I especially think back to decisions that have caused the most pain. Should I have been “smarter” and just avoided that decision entirely? Should I have done that completely differently to avoid an inevitable pain?
Life tends to have a way of pushing us in certain directions, regardless of the paths we take to get there. Even the painful moments, while difficult, shape who we become. It’s tempting to think we should have been “smarter” and made a different choice, but perhaps those choices, even the ones that hurt, were necessary.
My Old Ass introduces us to Elliott, played by Maisy Stella, on her eighteenth birthday. Instead of spending it with her family, she spends the day riding her boat with her two best friends (Kerrice Brooks & Maddie Ziegler) and hooking up with the girl who happens to be the barista of her dreams (Alexandria Rivera). If there is one thing about Elliott we learn early on it is that she is very sure in herself and sure that she will be leaving her family’s cranberry farm and moving to the big city of Toronto in the fall.
Elliott has the genius idea of taking shrooms with her two best friends while camping in the woods because that sounds like the best idea. No one has ever had a bad trip in the woods, right? After they drink the magical shroom tea, her friends wander off dancing in the woods and befriending furry critters. Meanwhile, Elliott is a little disappointed that she isn’t high. It isn’t until she hears a voice telling her that she doesn’t respond well to drugs that she realizes she is high. Sitting next to her by the campfire is “Old Ass” Elliott (Aubrey Plaza).
Skeptical at first, Elliott finally comes around and decides she needs to know what happens to her in the future. Elliott is eager for her older self to unlock the secrets to their future, hoping for answers that will make growing up easier. “Old Ass” Elliott offers is a cryptic warning: stay away from a guy named Chad (easy enough, it should be easy to avoid a guy name Chad). It is a warning Elliott takes to heart immediately. However, the following day when Elliott returns home, she crosses paths with Chad (Percy Hynes White), the newest summer hire at her family’s cranberry farm.
Elliott does her best trying to avoid Chad. In my opinion, she could have done better but she makes an admirable effort nonetheless. However, as the summer progresses, it becomes harder and harder. Chad is constantly around and unavoidable. The more time Elliott spends with Chad she can’t find anything wrong with him and begins to fall for him. She tries reaching out to her “Old Ass”, begging what could be wrong with a guy named Chad. “Old Ass” gives no response as to what makes Chad worth avoiding.
Stella delivers a heartwarming and authentic performance alongside Plaza, who plays her older counterpart, “Old Ass” Elliott. Stella’s ability to command the screen is truly thrilling, especially for a newcomer. Her portrayal of Elliott is both relatable and nuanced, allowing audiences to connect with her journey of self-discovery. Together, Stella and Plaza create a captivating and heartfelt experience that lingers long after the film ends, showcasing the ongoing quest for understanding oneself and “figuring it all out”.
My Old Ass taps into the beautiful naivety of youth. Sure, we will all regret some “young and dumb” decisions. However, our decisions are what make us who we are. What is the point in having it “all figured out”? If everything followed a perfect plan, would the big moments still feel thrilling? Would there be any unexpected joys or intimate surprises to savor? The joy of life often lies in its unpredictability, in the little surprises and intimate moments that catch us off guard. It’s the missteps, the detours, and the stumbles that often lead to the most transformative experiences.
My Old Ass doesn’t peddle the idea that by a certain age, we should have mastered life. Instead, it celebrates the beauty of not having it all together. There’s no universal roadmap, no right or wrong way to “win” at life. We just make choices based on who we are at any given moment, and that’s enough. Both Elliott and her older-self learn from one another. Even with “Old Ass” being thirty-eight, she has a lot to learn still. For Elliott, meeting her future self breaks the illusion that age equates to having life figured out. She realizes that even as she grows older, she’ll still be navigating uncertainty, making mistakes, and questioning her choices.
“Old Ass” learns from younger Elliott too. She sees the fire of her younger self — the boldness, optimism, and willingness to take risks, and she realizes how valuable those qualities are, even at thirty-eight. Reconnecting with her younger self reminds her that being brave enough to step into the unknown and take risks isn’t something you should outgrow. It’s something you carry with you, no matter your age. While wisdom comes with age, the recklessness of youth teaches valuable lessons too. The balance between these two perspectives is where the magic happens — we become better versions of ourselves. The final moments end Elliott listening to a voicemail from her “Old Ass” saying, “So just fuck it. Keep being the naive, dumb, poreless, happy, confident, brave, self-centered, optimistic idiot that you are because it’s perfect.” It’s a reminder that no matter how old we get, we should always embrace the unknown with open arms.
