“My Old Ass” (2024)

“My Old Ass” provides the perfect blend of comedy, romance and coming-of-age story for a lovely late summer trip to the theater.

Maisy Stella stars as Elliott, who just turned 18 and plans to move to the big city from her family’s cranberry farm at the end of the summer.

She and her friends (played by Kerrice Brooks and Maddie Ziegler) celebrate her 18th birthday by camping and taking magic mushrooms. Elliott’s trip involves a visit from the 39-year-old version of herself, played by Aubrey Plaza of “Parks and Recreation” and “The White Lotus.”

The older version gives the younger version one warning: Avoid anyone named Chad. And wouldn’t you know it? The next day, she has an awkwardly charming meet cute with someone named Chad (Percy Hynes White).

Somehow, the time-bending trip goes on allows for the older and younger versions to continue to communicate via texts and phone calls, and the older one is persistent in her warnings to avoid Chad. The younger Elliott tries her best to avoid Chad, but he’s working at her family’s cranberry farm over the summer (where she also works) and is just incredibly charming.

As someone who previously only dated girls, Elliott finds her inexplicable attraction to him very perplexing, and she cannot stop thinking about him even when she is hooking up with the girl of her dreams from the local coffee shop.

Stella is absolutely terrific as the younger Elliott, and Plaza complements her perfectly, especially in the dramatic scenes, which are a departure from the typical snarky comedy we have come to expect from her.

If you’re a fan of romcoms or coming-of-age stories, I highly recommend checking out “My Old Ass.”

Rating: 4/5