Anthony's Film Review - 80 for Brady (2023)

This sports-themed comedy movie is quite predictable, but it's at least mildly fun...

Age is really just a number. That's right. It doesn't matter how old you are. You can do whatever you like, whenever you like, and you should not have to be judged because you're too young or too old for something. For example, if you love American football, have a favorite National Football League team, follow NFL games, and watch the Super Bowl each year, don't stop. If you have friends to enjoy it with, don't let anyone say no to that. That's what this movie is about: four friends who love football, root for the New England Patriots, worship the team's star quarterback Tom Brady, and find a way to go to the Super Bowl. Those four just happen to be octogenarian women, but who cares? Age is just a number.

The main characters of 80 for Brady, set in the year 2017, are Trish (Jane Fonda), Betty (Sally Field), Lou (Lily Tomlin), and Maura (Rita Moreno). For the most part, the characters are minimally distinct from each other. There are just enough characteristics to tell them apart. Trish is a book author, Betty is a university professor, Lou is dealing with a possible cancer diagnosis, and Maura lives in a retirement community. Otherwise, the focus is their common love of the Patriots and Tom Brady, and the impromptu decision by one of them to get four tickets to Super Bowl LI between the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons, being played in Houston, Texas.

The plot is essentially a series of two things: the pleasures of being a football fan and unexpected complications. When the four women attend the NFL Experience in the lead-up to the big game, some interesting things happen, like Lou showing off football-throwing skills. But later, Trish gets sidetracked by a fan and Maura finds herself gambling big. Through it all, these four women maintain their composure as best they can. If there's one thing to appreciate about this movie, it's that the four leading actresses playing characters in awkward situations are funny and delightful to watch on screen.

Ultimately, 80 for Brady is a predictable sports comedy film. It's especially predictable if you already watched Super Bowl LI or at least know its outcome. Still, it's fun to watch a movie that covers sports culture for an audience who may not regularly follow sports media. Speaking of which, besides the four main characters, this film presents two hosts of a podcast called Pats Nation, both of whom channel the emotional ups and downs of Patriots fans. They're perhaps as fun to watch as Trish, Betty, Lou, and Maura. As for Tom Brady, he appears enough in the movie without stealing the thunder of the main stars, which is good.

In the end, 80 for Brady is a decent sports comedy film that NFL fans, Patriots fans, Tom Brady fans, sports fans, and even casual sports observers can enjoy. Interestingly enough, the movie was released in theaters just two days after Tom Brady announced his retirement from the NFL (for the second time, but presumably for good this time). It may help Brady fans appreciate this movie a bit more, but let's be clear. The movie is not about Tom Brady, but about four senior citizens who capture football fandom that many take part in. Sports are a huge American pastime, and these four fabulous ladies show that anyone can enjoy them.

Anthony's Rating:

For more information about 80 for Brady, visit the Internet Movie Database.