My Old Ass

Back in 2021, writer/director Megan Park made her debut with THE FALLOUT, released on HBO Max. It flew under my radar until very recently, and I loved it. It's about the emotional fallout of a school shooting, and how people cope differently. It's a hard watch, but I highly recommend it. Now, just 3 years later, Park has released MY OLD ASS. This is a coming-of-age rom-com that has a huge heart, that also really moved me. It's everything I need. 18-year-old Elliott (Maisy Stella) is leaving for college in 22 days. Her and her friends go camping, taking mushrooms in the hopes of having a good trip before her trip. While her friends are tripping out, Elliott meets her 39-year-old self (Aubrey Plaza). She asks all the logical questions one would ask if you met your older self. She is justifiably cagy in what she tells her for butterfly effect reasons, one of the only things she tells her is to avoid anybody named Chad, and to spend more time with her family. This is absolutely my kind of movie. It's very well-written, very well-acted (Maisy is going to go far), the onscreen chemistry is top tier, the story goes to emotional places you don't expect. I'm so happy writers are still thriving and can express their visions in the way they want. MY OLD ASS might be the most underrated movie of the year, but I hope I'm wrong. It just might be in my top 10 of 2024. Remember, tell the people you love, you love them. Time is the only thing we can't get back. Take your chances, appreciate the now. Go hug your mother!