Aubrey Plaza stares aging in the face in 'My Old Ass,' a Sundance festival hit

Many people dream about giving advice to their teenage self. But Aubrey Plaza takes it a step further and acts it out on the big screen in the new comedy "My Old Ass." 

The coming-of-age film has become a favorite at Sundance Film Festival, selling out tickets for all five of its screenings. The "My Old Ass" will have its fifth and final Sundance showing on the last day of the festival: Sunday, Jan. 28. 

So far it has inspired praise from "The Guardian,'' "Vanity Fair'' and "Variety,'' to name a few.

The summer before college, the teen Elliot (Maisy Stella) comes face to face with her older self during a psychedelic mushroom trip in the film.  The older Elliot, who is played by Wilmington's own Plaza, tries to mentor the teen in this fictional tale that involves love and time travel.  

Aubrey Plaza names her acting mentors

Plaza's role as a sage in "My Old Ass" is a reminder that the 39-year-old has been working in Hollywood for nearly two decades — from the time she appeared in an episode of "30 Rock" in 2006. 

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The A-list actress recently told the Associated Press that she was mentored by two colleagues from "Parks and Recreation." Plaza joined the cast in 2009.  

"I think that I've been really blessed by working with a lot of actresses that kinda mentored me, Amy Poehler, Rashida Jones are two that come to mind," said Plaza, who fell short of winning her first Emmy for her role on HBO's "The White Lotus" earlier this month.  

"I was really young when I started working with them, and they just taught me to have a really generous spirit and to be supportive of women."   

'My Old Ass' director talks funny title

Megan Park, the director and writer of "My Old Ass," gave the film a title that sounds like something Plaza came up with.  

"Truthfully, it was like a little 'tee-hee' because I thought I would not get away with titling a movie 'My Old Ass' and I was like, 'This is going to be so funny to see people typing this out in professional emails,'" Park said.  

But there is a rhyme and a reason to the film's title, the director added. "Once you see the movie, it obviously makes more sense." 

If you have an interesting story idea, email lifestyle reporter Andre Lamar at alamar@gannett.com. Consider signing up for his weekly newsletter, DO Delaware, at delawareonline.com/newsletters. 

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