My Old Ass Christian Review

When you sit down to watch My Old Ass, you might think you’re in for a simple story about the awkward and messy nature of growing up. But then it hits you—it’s not just about growing up, it’s about growing out of the person you thought you were, or maybe never were at all. It’s about youth, sure, but it’s also about middle age, regret, and the long, winding road we walk between those two extremes. From a Christian perspective, this film isn’t just a movie; it’s a conversation starter, but not necessarily an easy one.

The Messy Journey of Youth

There’s no glossing over the fact that My Old Ass is brutally honest about adolescent desire and sexual identity, and it brings those issues to the forefront in a way that’s raw and unfiltered. For parents watching, this might bring up some feelings of discomfort. The film doesn’t shy away from the kind of self-exploration that many teenagers go through, and that’s where it starts to rub against traditional Christian values.

For Christians, adolescence is a formative time—it’s when young people are shaped not just by their experiences but by the moral compass we try to instill in them. Ephesians 6:4 tells parents to raise their children “in the discipline and instruction of the Lord,” but in My Old Ass, the instruction seems to lean more toward self-discovery without much moral guidance. The questions of sexual identity are laid bare, but there’s a lack of biblical framework to navigate those questions. For some Christian viewers, this might feel like shaky ground.

At the same time, it’s hard not to see the value in the film’s honesty. It doesn’t sugarcoat the struggles young people face when it comes to figuring out who they are, and in a world that’s increasingly confusing, there’s something to be said for that kind of transparency. But without a Christian foundation to anchor that exploration, it can feel like the film is wandering in search of answers it can’t quite find.

Reflecting on Middle Age and Regret

What really makes My Old Ass stand out, though, is how it holds up a mirror to middle age and the weight of regrets we carry. It’s not just about the confusion of youth; it’s about looking back on those years from the other side of life and wondering if we got it all wrong. For Christians, this idea of reflecting on our past is central to the concept of redemption.

Isaiah 43:18-19 reminds us, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!” In the context of the film, that new thing isn’t always clear, but the message is: it’s never too late to rethink your life, to make peace with the mistakes you’ve made, or to try and fix what’s broken. The characters in My Old Ass are grappling with their past decisions, and while the film doesn’t offer a clear path to redemption, it does leave space for reflection.

But here’s the thing—while the Bible offers hope and grace for our regrets, the film seems content to let those regrets hang in the air. It’s reflective without being redemptive. You see the characters wrestle with their choices, but there’s no sense of a higher power guiding them toward healing or forgiveness. As a Christian viewer, that can feel like a missed opportunity, a moment where faith could step in and offer the hope that’s absent from the story.

The Subtle Power of Earnestness

There’s an earnestness to My Old Ass that’s hard to ignore. The performances, especially Plaza’s, are stripped of any unnecessary theatrics, leaving only raw, human emotion. This is where the film’s strength lies—in its ability to make you feel the weight of every moment without hitting you over the head with sentimentality.

For a Christian audience, there’s something to appreciate in that kind of vulnerability. After all, we’re called to live authentically, to love genuinely, and to be real with one another (Romans 12:9-10). The film doesn’t try to be anything it’s not, and in that way, it mirrors the kind of honesty we’re called to as followers of Christ. But it’s also this very quality that makes the film challenging, because the honesty of My Old Ass delves into areas that don’t always sit comfortably with Christian values—particularly when it comes to the exploration of identity.

Identity, Desire, and the Christian Lens

If there’s one thing My Old Ass doesn’t shy away from, it’s the issue of sexual identity. The characters grapple with who they are and who they want to be, and for a secular audience, that might feel empowering. But for Christians, this brings up bigger questions about identity—questions that go beyond self-discovery and touch on who God created us to be.

Genesis 1:27 tells us, “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” This biblical truth shapes how we understand ourselves and our identity, and it stands in contrast to the fluid, self-determined identities explored in the film. My Old Ass doesn’t offer a definitive stance on these issues; it lets the characters explore their desires without much consequence. For Christians, this might feel like the film is missing the point—identity isn’t something we construct, it’s something given to us by God.

And yet, there’s something deeply human about the way My Old Ass handles these questions. It doesn’t try to provide easy answers, because let’s face it—life doesn’t come with a neat set of instructions. But from a Christian standpoint, it’s important to remember that while the film explores identity through the lens of self, our faith teaches us to look to God for answers to these big questions.

Redemption and Risk

At its heart, My Old Ass is a film about risk—about the risks we take in life, in love, and in figuring out who we are. There’s a certain beauty in that, a sense of living boldly and without fear of the future. But as Christians, we know that real risk comes when we step out in faith, trusting that God is in control of our lives (Proverbs 3:5-6). The risks taken by the characters in the film are more about self-fulfillment than faith, and that’s where the film and a Christian worldview start to part ways.

Ultimately, My Old Ass is about self-acceptance, but it’s a self-acceptance rooted in personal experience rather than divine truth. It’s a subtle, heartfelt story that’s earnest in its intentions, but for Christians, it might leave you wishing for something more—something that points beyond the self and toward the God who created us.

Final Thoughts

My Old Ass is a film that’s both sweet and sharp, funny and poignant. It’s reflective of the times we’re living in, where questions of identity and regret are often left unresolved. As a Christian viewer, there’s a lot to wrestle with here. The film offers moments of deep emotion and honesty, but it also presents a worldview that doesn’t fully align with biblical truth.

In the end, My Old Ass may leave you feeling reflective, but it won’t necessarily lead you to a place of spiritual clarity. It’s a movie that invites conversation, but as Christians, we need to approach it with discernment, keeping our eyes on the bigger picture of who we are in Christ.

Rating: 5.5/10