I’m always a sucker for a great coming of age story. But even I can admit the genre has gotten a little stale over years of movies, relying on high school staples of one big party or getting the boy/girl. You wouldn’t exactly peg My Old Ass to be the title of the next great coming of age movie, but that’s exactly what it becomes, droning across the luscious beauty of Muskoka Lakes, which has now vaulted to the top of my next travel destination list. Not setting a movie a year there in the summer and fall has frankly made me mad at the film industry. HOW DARE YOU!
Elliott (Maisy Stella) is nearing the end of her last summer at home, before she starts college in Toronto, and as she says, her life begins. Before Elliott leaves Muskoka, her friends Ruthie (Maddie Ziegler) and Ro (Kerrice Brooks) surprise her with mushrooms, and the trio go on a fun drug trip together camping under the gorgeous night sky. While Ruthie and Ro have really fun experiences, Elliott’s gets strange; an older version of herself (Aubrey Plaza) shows up, and starts talking to her about what 39 year old Elliott’s life will be like at middle age. Before she departs, older Elliott puts her phone number into her younger self’s phone…and props to both, Elliott purchased the T-Mobile “Across Time” plan, as the drug hallucination lasts much longer than Elliott ever expected.
What makes My Old Ass so exciting and fresh, besides the sci-fi nature of the story, is it’s very specific choice in time setting. Most high school movies lock into “Senior Year” as a general concept, but never quite pick a specific time in the year for more flexibility. Megan Park (the incredible creator of The Fallout a few years back) lasers in into the last 3 weeks of summer right before college. This is a time all 18 year olds like Elliott would be keyed into their future, excited by all the possibilities it might bring. So when Older Elliott shows up, younger Elliott is filled with all these questions, which are met with answers of…appreciate mom? Enjoy berry farming?? Go golfing with your younger brother??? As you might expect, Elliott is perplexed by this “wisdom” as she’s been in the clouds dreaming for a while now, some understandable 18 year old self-absorption. But after some bumpy attempts at following older Elliott’s advice, something amazing happens. Megan Park’s magical script sneaks up on Elliott, as she learns the depths of her love of her current life means to her. The scenes between Elliott and her family or Elliott and life in Muskoka are subtly and beautifully observed, slowly washing over the audience in those beautiful blue Canadian lake waters filled with nostalgia, understanding, and appreciation. Even the hardest of hearts will shed a tear or two from My Old Ass, a sentence I can’t believe I’m writing but unequivocally know to be true.
Despite Aubrey Plaza’s presence to sell the movie, a coming of age story only works if we like the person coming of age. Plaza’s only in this thing for 20ish minutes, meaning it’s up to movie newcomer Maisy Stella to carry this film. Like Benny the Jet Rodriguez or Diane Court, a new crush is going to be born for the Gen Z generation from My Old Ass, ha. Stella gives young Elliott a confidence and swagger wrapped in innate likeability. As the story goes on, we really feel like this is a normal girl warring with herself and her feelings, as she remains excited for her future but learns to appreciate her present. By simply trying to connect, her innate sweetness and deep charisma cause others around her to melt and eventually give in to her emotional advances. Stella is the key figure in all the deep emotional well of scenes in this movie, forging memorable sequences with 5 different characters, all with different tenors and beats grounding those moments in the real world the audience lives in. And, when we’re not deep in our feelings, we’re also having a great time hanging out making memories with one of the coolest coming of age characters we all wish we knew. It could be just me, but my 18 year old self would have fallen deeply in love with a girl like Elliott, and I’m very certain most of the male/female/non-binary audience will as well.
So to the high school seniors enjoying those last few weeks of summer, I’m sure you’re burning through the rite of passage movies before you enter freshmen year of college. Add My Old Ass to your list. If there is any justice in the world, this one will become part of that rotation, and work its way into the heart of many millions of other kids ready for their lives to start. Aubrey Plaza is here to remind you your life already has…and it might be pretty great if you slow down a hot sec and pay attention. Especially if you live in Muskoka…the most beautiful place to grow up in the world maybe? See for yourself.