“The only thing you can’t get back is time. It goes by so fast.”
Park City can, at times, have an illusionary effect on films. Surrounded by movie lovers and industry insiders, a Sundance premiere can play profoundly at the festival only to cave to a mediocre (if not abysmal) showing once it travels away from the bitter cold and into the world. For every Clerks, Little Miss Sunshine, Napoleon Dynamite, and Blair Witch Project, there lies a Son of Rambow, Hamlet 2, Birth of a Nation, and Happy, Texas. Understandably, Newton’s third law of motion comes to mind. If only the successes were as abundant as the disappointments.
Thankfully, against a mountain of obstruction, My Old Ass, an unquestionable Sundance hit from writer/director Megan Park, escapes the summit to bring a unique, queer(ish), coming-of-age story to the big screen. While it is far from perfect, the film, amid its beautifully laced honesty and authenticity, delivers a heartfelt message that is emphatically universal.
Maisy Stella stars as Elliot, a high school graduate excited to break free and relocate to the big city where her dreams and ambitions await. But first, an eighteenth birthday celebration inclusive of a mushroom trip with two of her best friends. That trip, taken next to a campfire in the woods, brings her face to face with her thirty-nine-year-old self, played flawlessly by Aubrey Plaza.
Though the basis is anything but original, Park successfully navigates the terrain in a unique, exciting way without resigning to entirely reinventing the wheel. It’s a tough line to walk. And thanks to a plethora of incredible performances, the film captures the heart and emotion without becoming a cliché unto itself.
Elliot, stuck between significant life stages, is tired of her life on the cranberry farm in a small picturesque community in Ontario. She longs for more and appears unaware of the beauty surrounding her. Family, friends, and love stand at her doorstep; if only she’d take a moment to acknowledge it. She isn’t a rarity in this world. We’ve all underappreciated our time with those we hold dear. And while we occasionally wonder what we’d share if we were to meet ourselves, Elliot’s “middle-aged” self presents as more advisor, less expert. Except for Chad. That, unfortunately, she knows too much about.
Stella and Plaza are impeccable as they complement one another, selling themselves as equal parts while still creating a singularity that highlights the differences that exist with age. And thankfully, avoiding the pitfalls of boring, embryonic questions we ponder if we ever meet our older self, the film focuses on the impacts of love, family, and relationships.
To many, My Old Ass will come across as rudimentary. To an extent, they have a point. The obstacles, familiar in context, are quickly dealt with as Park rushes through the emotional turmoil of a teenager on the brink of significant change. And though some dramatized points become exaggerated when shown through the eyes of our protagonist, there is no doubt everything works out in the end. She is, after all, standing next to herself.
But that doesn’t take away from the effects My Old Ass has on those watching. Simple in nature but profound in impact, Park successfully gives us a story that is equal parts relatable and exclusive. Notably shot on a limited budget, it’s a product of independent cinema. And in a world where we appear to have lost much of the subset, this film is a pleasant reminder of just how good it can be.
