My Old Ass

My Old Ass

A Painfully Charming Memory of Youth

★★★★☆

A surprisingly touching and effective story about cherishing life and living in the moment.

Directed by Megan Park, My Old Ass utilizes a simple premise—an older self giving their younger self life advice—and makes it work through pure charm. Set against an idyllic mountainside backdrop, the film feels like a beautiful memory. It benefits greatly from witty dialogue and heartfelt interactions, staying focused on its emotional through-line without the need for unnecessary narrative frills or twists.

"The film is almost painfully charming. But it all works. There is a potency in presenting this simple coming-of-age story without frills or twists."

— Ray Manukay

🎬 Cast & Crew

• Director: Megan Park
• Starring: Maisy Stella, Aubrey Plaza
• Runtime: 1 Hour 29 Minutes
• Studio: Amazon MGM Studios

The Vision

Director Megan Park avoids the common pitfall of over-complicating a coming-of-age story. By trusting the core message and maintaining a brisk pace, every scene builds effectively on the film's themes. It is a confident follow-up to her debut, showcasing a knack for finding depth in simple, relatable human connections.

🎬 Cinephile Fun Facts

• Sundance Hit: The film was one of the most buzzed-about titles at the [2024 Sundance Film Festival](https://festival.sundance.org).
• Double Duty: Aubrey Plaza continues her streak of taking on unique, genre-bending indie roles.
• Breakout Star: This marks a major film debut for Maisy Stella, previously known for her music and television work.

✅ Pros

• Standout performance by Maisy Stella.
• Lean, effective 89-minute runtime.
• Witty dialogue and heartfelt emotional core.

❌ Cons

• The simple premise might feel "too light" for some.
• Relies heavily on the "charm" factor to carry scenes.

🏆 Final Verdict

Another triumph for Aubrey Plaza and a relatable lead turn for Maisy Stella. My Old Ass is a brisk, beautiful reminder to cherish the moment.

View original review on Letterboxd