Every once in a while a film comes from Hollywood that you just have to see to believe. Maybe that be an action comedy in which a coked up bear terrorizes a town, or even a violent take on Winnie The Pooh where Pooh and Piglet have just had enough. 80 For Brady is one of those films, while it may not be as violent as those other ones, it’s a fun story that will for sure get a laugh out of you, while also packing a surprising handful of heart with a colorful leading cast.
A Touchdown of A Movie
Perhaps the most baffling part of this film is its star power, featuring legendary talent like Jane Fonda, Rita Moreno, Lily Tomlin, Sally Field and of course, Tom Brady. This gang of geezers, each with their own unique quirks, finds themselves set on making the journey to Super Bowl LI, in order to live out their dream of seeing their golden god, Tom Brady, win a Superbowl. At the core of the film is a story of friendship, and sticking alongside those no matter what and being there for your people.
I don’t think it would be hard for people to believe that this film is anything groundbreaking, it’s a pretty basic story, with some pretty simple character arcs. What really sells the film is the novelty of it all, having these four living legends of Hollywood alongside someone many may consider to be one of best football players of all time. It’s just kind of a once in a lifetime type of film, and while that shouldn’t resolve it of its issues, to me it just kinda puts the film in a certain category for me personally.
Like said above, the story isn’t all that complicated, and the character arcs aren’t all that unique but when you’ve got the likes of Field, Moreno, Fonda, and Tomlin, something special walks this way. The four of them take their characters and run with them, each bringing their own personal flair to their arcs and the film overall, each being able to stand apart from the other to make the dynamics and more importantly the story much more interesting than seen at surface level.
’80 For Brady’ is Real.
While the gals do a ton of the heavy lifting here, the plot has some merit to it. 80 For Brady was inspired by a real group of elderly women, who came together due to their love of Brady following the passing of their husbands. This story takes a different approach, with the ladies supporting their friend Lou, during her chemo treatments, coming together and finding a love for the sport, and of course Brady when their friend needed them most. It’s the intimate moments between the cast and Lou’s need for one last hurrah as she anticipates the results of some medical tests, fearing the return of her cancer could end her Brady gang days for good.
Probably the best thing about the film is that it knows exactly what it is, and it knows who its audience is going to be. The Gen-Xers in the general audiences will adore this film, filled with many familiar faces from their youth. The movie plays it safe, but is able to appeal to multiple demographics with its leads and also its appreciation of the sport.
’80 For Brady’ – Final Thoughts
While nothing groundbreaking, 80 For Brady is a fun time that is sure to get a laugh or two out of you. A couple fun performances and a unique scenario make for one a creative popcorn flick that is perfect for an older audience.
80 For Brady releases in theaters on February 3rd, 2023. Check out the trailer below:
