movie review for 80 for brady

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Resistance is futile: The ladies of "80 for Brady" have been mesmerizing us with the fascinating, flawed, but always vibrantly human characters they've portrayed for a combined more than two centuries, along with many Oscars, Tonys, and Emmys. They bring everything they've learned to this irresistible film from director Kyle Marvin , inspired by the true story of four octogenarians whose devotion to each other is matched by their devotion to NFL quarterback Tom Brady . It’s a Cinderella story with four fairy godmothers, but instead of ugly step-sisters forcing them to do housework, these women are confronting the indignities of aging and the limits of mortality. Speaking of magical interventions, the film is produced by Tom Brady, who plays himself and has a very engaging screen presence.

When a local radio station promises four Super Bowl tickets to anyone who comes up with the best story, Trish ( Jane Fonda ), Lou ( Lily Tomlin ), Betty ( Sally Field ), and Maura ( Rita Moreno ) decide it's their chance to take a break from the various complications of their lives and go on a wild adventure to see their beloved Tommy in the 2017 Super Bowl. 

Trish, who writes erotic fan fiction about Brady's teammate Rob Gronkowski , falls in love too easily and is recovering from her latest broken heart. Lou is afraid to open the email from the hospital to find out whether her cancer has returned. Betty, a retired MIT professor, loves her husband ( Bob Balaban ), but attending to his neediness is making her feel erased. And Maura is still mourning the loss of her late husband. 

It all began 16 years earlier, when Lou was getting chemo treatments for cancer, and her friends came together to help her. The television got stuck on a 2001 game between the Patriots and the Jets. A then-lesser player named Tom Brady was called off the bench, beginning one of the most storied careers in sports history. Now it's an annual tradition for the women to get together in their team jerseys to watch the game. Like many avid sports fans, they're superstitious and begin watching the first game of each season just as they did the first time, with Betty on a ladder changing a light bulb and Lou knocking over the potato chips.

One can sit back, relax, and enjoy "80 for Brady," understanding that nothing here makes sense in terms like “might happen” or even “should happen.” Just as all fairy tales should, this movie lives in the land of “wouldn’t it be wonderful.” How about a dance number? Yes! And a little romance? Do you have to ask? Harry Hamlin is debonair, and Glynn Turman is utterly charming. For others in the crowd: Are there some colorful guest stars? Yes! Billy Porter ! Guy Fieri ! An update during the end credits? Of course. What about clips from exciting moments in football games? Yep!

Far more important than the questions “Does any of this make sense?” and “Are there any surprises in the storyline?” are the questions, “It is fun to watch?” Yes! “Does it give each of these fabulous actors a chance to shine?” Yes, yes, yes, and yes. With a screenplay by " Booksmart "'s Emily Halpern and  Sarah Haskins , a lot happens and things move fast, so the parts that don’t work well are over quickly.

These pros are superb scene partners, and the ensemble scenes are among the highlights. And each makes the most of her solo moments. Moreno lights up the screen in a high-stakes poker game and her masterfully underplayed negotiation with a scalper. Field takes what could be a dreary character and makes us see her vulnerability and integrity; she even makes an extremely dumb joke about calling a fanny pack “a strap-on” work. Her insistence that she’s not an “80” for Brady since she is still in her 70s is not about vanity; it’s about her dedication to mathematic precision. 

Meanwhile, Lou struggles with secrets about her health and how the trip came together but relishes her role as the one who inspires the others, including Brady himself. Fonda brings warmth to the thinnest-written role. While a disrespectful character calls the four women “Golden Girls,” she is not a one-note “isn’t it cute that an old lady likes sex” joke. Rather, she's a tender-hearted but resilient optimist who has been re-inventing herself since she got too old for her job as a spokesmodel for a car dealer. And Fonda’s chemistry with her “Grace and Frankie” co-star and close friend Lily Tomlin continues to sparkle.

"80 for Brady" isn't just about these characters proving to themselves that they value their friendships and are still open to adventure. Indeed, it's the support they give each other, and the idea that they have nothing left to lose that makes them more willing to take risks than those two generations younger. That goes for the people who portray them as well; it's pure joy to see these women we have loved and grown with over the decades. They still give their considerable best to make us laugh, dream of our own adventures, and wish they could be around for another two centuries.

Now playing in theaters. 

Nell Minow is the Contributing Editor at RogerEbert.com.

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Film credits.

80 for Brady (2023)

Rated PG-13 for brief strong language, some drug content and some suggestive references.

Lily Tomlin as Lou

Jane Fonda as Trish

Rita Moreno as Maura

Sally Field as Betty

Tom Brady as Tom Brady

Billy Porter as Gugu

Alex Moffat as Nat

Rob Corddry as Pat

Guy Fieri as Guy Fieri

Harry Hamlin as Dan

Bob Balaban as Mark

Glynn Turman as Mickey

Jimmy O. Yang as Tony

Ron Funches as Chip

Rob Gronkowski as Rob Gronkowski

Julian Edelman as Julian Edelman

• Kyle Marvin
• Emily Halpern
• Sarah Haskins

Cinematographer

• Colin Patton
• John Debney

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80 for brady.

• Common Sense Says
• Parents Say 4 Reviews
• Kids Say 6 Reviews

Common Sense Media Review

So-so superfan comedy scores on age representation.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that 80 for Brady is a sports-themed comedy produced by and featuring NFL quarterback Tom Brady and written by the women behind Booksmart. Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Rita Moreno, and Sally Field star as four friends going to the Super Bowl. On one level, it's a silly film intended…

Why Age 13+?

Rare use of words/phrases including "give a damn," "s--t," "shut up," "son of a

The movie promotes Tom Brady. Microsoft Surface is heavily featured. Quite a bit

Pot gummies are unintentionally consumed, leading to comedically depicted shenan

Suggestive jokes. Recurring joke about a fanny pack described as a "strap on." K

One character is a cancer survivor.

Any Positive Content?

Never give up. Themes of friendship, resilience, perseverance, and teamwork.

Most characters, even those in supporting roles, are helpful, caring, and suppor

Four women over 70 are the main characters, and they're depicted in a positive,

Rare use of words/phrases including "give a damn," "s--t," "shut up," "son of a bitch," "for God's sake," and one "f--kin'."

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

The movie promotes Tom Brady. Microsoft Surface is heavily featured. Quite a bit of focus on Guy Fieri and his Flavortown brand.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Pot gummies are unintentionally consumed, leading to comedically depicted shenanigans and a positive outcome. A joke about being hung over from champagne. Main characters are seen holding a beverage that looks like white wine. Extras at a game hold something that looks like beer, but no one is ever seen drinking.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Suggestive jokes. Recurring joke about a fanny pack described as a "strap on." Kissing.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Violence & Scariness

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Positive Messages

Positive role models.

Most characters, even those in supporting roles, are helpful, caring, and supportive.

Diverse Representations

Four women over 70 are the main characters, and they're depicted in a positive, empowering light (robustly three-dimensional, living fulfilling lives), while also reflecting some of the challenges that come with aging. Three of the four are White. Maura is played by Puerto Rican actor Rita Moreno, and many supporting characters are people of color. A gay Black male choreographer is pivotal to the plot. Counters stereotypes by showing women being as passionate about football as their male counterparts. Written by the women behind Booksmart .

Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update.

Parents need to know that 80 for Brady is a sports-themed comedy produced by and featuring NFL quarterback Tom Brady and written by the women behind Booksmart . Jane Fonda , Lily Tomlin , Rita Moreno , and Sally Field star as four friends going to the Super Bowl. On one level, it's a silly film intended to help bridge the gap between male sports fans and "football widows." But it also counters stereotypes by centering four women over 70 and portraying them as three-dimensional people who are living fulfilling lives. While the story is primarily about the power of female friendship, romantic storylines are part of the women's lives (one is married, one widowed, one single with an adult child, and one lovelorn), and they're depicted as being attractive/sexually appealing. There's some suggestive humor -- e.g., a fanny pack is naively referred to as a "strap on" -- but nothing gets too bawdy. Wine, champagne, and beer can be spotted, but no one is actually shown drinking. That said, the women do accidentally eat pot gummies at a fancy party, and fun/funny hallucinogenic hijinks ensue, casting cannabis use in a positive light. Expect a few instances of strong language ("s--t," "son of a bitch," one use of "f--kin'" for emphasis, etc.). One character is a cancer survivor, and that figures into the plot. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

Where to Watch

Videos and photos.

Parent and Kid Reviews

• Parents say (4)
• Kids say (6)

Based on 4 parent reviews

Don't bother.

The most funny heartwarming movie, what's the story.

Lou ( Lily Tomlin ), Maura ( Rita Moreno ), Trish ( Jane Fonda ), and Betty ( Sally Field ) are best friends who've never missed a Patriots game since Tom Brady's debut in 2001. When the Patriots head to Super Bowl LI, the women do whatever it takes to get to the game to cheer on their favorite quarterback, calling themselves 80 FOR BRADY.

Is It Any Good?

There's a lot to be celebrated in this fun comedy. Even though it's not nearly as rollicking as writers Emily Halpern and Sarah Haskins' previous effort, Booksmart , it positively depicts women over 70 as adventurous, gutsy, attractive, and necessary, which is all too rare in mainstream Hollywood cinema. Inspired by a newspaper photo of four women wearing "80 for Brady" sweatshirts, Halpern and Haskins imagined a story in which the friends go to the Super Bowl to meet "the G.O.A.T." Thanks to the presence of four acting legends who are comedic G.O.A.T.s themselves, the portions that reflect the women's lives, challenges, and friendship are some of the movie's best.

That said, the opening credits make very sure viewers don't miss the fact that Tom Brady is the film's producer, and that actually works against the film. When the women ooh and ahh over how handsome Brady is, and when characters talk about him as if he's a god, it feels obnoxiously self-congratulatory and narcissistic. Similarly, a spicy wings subplot is so adoring of Guy Fieri that it's hard not to wonder whether he paid to be in the film to promote himself. Still, Brady and his best football buddy Rob Gronkowski make their few minutes of on-screen time worth it, and the movie's crowd-pleasing nature makes it a fun watch.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about why 80 for Brady is noteworthy for its representation of women over 70 (and 80 and 90!). How do the portrayals here compare to those in other films you've seen? Why is representation important for everyone , including people in underrepresented age groups?

How is quarterback Tom Brady's reputation as a comeback king used as inspiration for Lou? Does it inspire you? Why are perseverance and teamwork important character strengths and life skills?

Does the movie glamorize cannabis use? What message could that send to teens who see the movie?

How does this movie compare to other sports comedies? Why is that often a popular genre?

Tom Brady produced this film, which celebrates him. How does this compare to other "vanity" projects like The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (produced by and starring Nicolas Cage as himself) or Rocketman (the Elton John-produced autobiopic)? Are these movies made to appeal to existing fans or to everyone?

Movie Details

• In theaters : February 3, 2023
• On DVD or streaming : May 2, 2023
• Cast : Lily Tomlin , Sally Field , Jane Fonda , Rita Moreno
• Director : Kyle Marvin
• Inclusion Information : Female actors, Gay actors, Latino actors, Female writers
• Studio : Paramount Pictures
• Genre : Comedy
• Topics : Sports and Martial Arts , Friendship
• Character Strengths : Perseverance , Teamwork
• Run time : 98 minutes
• MPAA rating : PG-13
• MPAA explanation : brief strong language, some drug content and some suggestive references
• Last updated : June 22, 2023

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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‘80 for brady’ review: tomlin, fonda, moreno and field outmaneuver screenplay fumbles in a crowd-pleasing sports comedy.

In a feature inspired by a true story, four silver-haired Massachusetts friends head to Houston for Super Bowl LI to see their hero Tom Brady in action.

By Sheri Linden

Sheri Linden

Senior Copy Editor/Film Critic

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If 80 for Brady , the opening-night selection of the Palm Springs Film Festival, lures the 55-plus cohort from its living-room flat-screens to the multiplex, it won’t be for the bromides on friendship. Those are delivered with an almost shocking literalness, but sparingly at least. This movie’s dazzle is all about the chemistry of its powerhouse quartet and the potential for comic sparks, and on that front, the starry huddle of Lily Tomlin , Jane Fonda , Rita Moreno and Sally Field delivers.

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As for the story itself, most of which is not set in the stadium, it’s a variously awkward, sweet and silly amalgam of day-to-day reality, sitcom zaniness and pure worship fantasy — those worshipped being, understandably, its glorious leading ladies. Scripted by Emily Halpern and Sarah Haskins, whose previous teamwork includes Carol’s Second Act and Booksmart , and directed by Kyle Marvin, an indie producer ( The Climb ) at the helm of his first film, 80 for Brady lays out all its plays right on the surface, sometimes ploddingly. It’s when Marvin stands back and lets his stars loose that the film finds traction, delighting in their skill at bringing expert devil-in the-details flourishes to the obvious setups.

The screenplay grasps how superstition takes hold of otherwise rational people in the name of their sports-team devotion. Every time they gather to watch a Patriots game, Lou and company go so far as to re-create what they were doing in her living room on the occasion of a decisive Pats victory. As local sportscasters Nat and Pat, Alex Moffat and Rob Corddry further capture the emotional extremes of fandom (and also give the always problematic Bay State accent a creditable shot; the only other castmember to try is Tomlin, with an understated slant on her vowels here and there).

Through a ticket giveaway contest and a series of events that are muddled for plot purposes but also unnecessarily confusing, the four friends get themselves to Houston to see the Patriots take on the Atlanta Falcons. For reasons that Lou doesn’t reveal to her pals, this Super Bowl has taken on enormous importance to her; hiding her health concerns, she frames the need to go as perhaps their last shot to see the 39-year-old Brady play.

At its sharpest, the screenplay by Halpern and Haskins gives the cast terrifically droll lines — a bit of haggling between Moreno’s Maura and a scalper being a highlight. But even when it doesn’t, these four effortlessly elevate the material with their unforced readings and offhand spins, Tomlin in particular. She manages to withstand the script’s most mawkish passages, involving Lou’s psychic connection with Brady, who addresses her from TV screens and billboards with words of encouragement, a favor that she ultimately repays with her own timely pep talk.

It’s more fun to watch the foursome outwit a Calm Gardens employee (Jimmy O. Yang) and, later, a stadium facilities manager (Ron Funches). Given how deliriously witty the central performances can be, it’s too bad the writers and Marvin didn’t push the absurdity factor more. There’s no need to supplement the comic framework with feel-good affirmations when these actors bring such accomplishment and well-earned affection to their roles; they’re rooting interests from the get-go, which is, above all, the point of this cinematic valentine.

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80 for Brady Reviews

A lot better than many will think - but perhaps a film you understand a little better if you a passionate sports fan. As you would expect with the calibre of the cast the comedy does hit when it needs to.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Dec 16, 2023

Sadly, Tomlin’s line delivery is wooden and inert, even with her “Grace and Frankie” costar Fonda; she’s better doing deprecating physical humor or when paired with Brady.

Full Review | Original Score: 1.5/4 | Aug 16, 2023

The film is full of sitcom-level jokes, Screenwriting 101 plotting, and cameos from former Patriots stars that play out exactly as expected.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Aug 9, 2023

The quartet of seasoned actresses bring their A-game to make this wish-fulfillment, feel-good movie a lot of fun to watch.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Jun 7, 2023

Football fans accustomed to the superstitions and obsessive fandom that comes with following a squad should find lots to love. It also should score with audiences looking for an earnestly good-natured and only slightly rowdy girl’s trip.

Full Review | Original Score: 8/10 | May 15, 2023

One gets to witness such idiocies as a Tom Brady bobblehead talk to Tomlin’s character or an accidental drug trip that results in Moreno’s character seeing everyone with Guy Fieri’s head.

Full Review | Original Score: 1.5/4 | May 13, 2023

It’s corny and phony and drippy and only the die-hardest of Brady’s fans wouldn’t be turned off by the blatant fellating of the superstar quarterback and his numerous achievements (and the NFL in general).

Full Review | May 4, 2023

These actresses are legends on their own, but collectively they are iconic.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | May 4, 2023

Unfortunately for me, there is no reference to Lady Gaga’s halftime show - but there is a way too long, very 2008-era gag about the ladies accidentally taking edibles and hallucinating visions of Guy Fieri.

Full Review | May 3, 2023

Good intentions and a kind heart does not always a good movie make, and 80 For Brady is, sadly, a pedestrian effort at best

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Apr 29, 2023

Why, girls, why?

Full Review | Original Score: 0.5/5 | Apr 28, 2023

80 For Brady sounds like 90 minutes of solid torture. But the good news is that it’s merely fairly bad. The leads don’t stretch themselves, but also do nothing to mar our sense of them as legends who deserve better material.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Apr 27, 2023

Good luck to you, 80 for Brady. You are lukewarm drivel. And yet, you're affectionate, ever so slightly funny and your heart looks to be in the right place. Some days, that'll do.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Apr 26, 2023

A comfort movie for the silver-haired cinephile, 80 for Brady is charming enough to score a touchdown for those who like their cinema undemanding.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Mar 29, 2023

It's never very funny, and the drama is thoroughly sappy, but these four grande dames of cinema keep it entertaining.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Mar 28, 2023

Far from a touchdown. We can do better for our icons than this.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Mar 25, 2023

Instead of bothering to craft any decent jokes, the scriptwriters rely on the concept of old people getting out of the house being inherently hilarious.

Full Review | Original Score: 1/5 | Mar 24, 2023

A children’s film for pensioners, 80 For Brady is an absurd, silly mess. But in spite of itself — and thanks to the warm, genuine chemistry of its legendary leading ladies — it is sweet, and difficult to truly begrudge.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Mar 24, 2023

You needn’t be an American football fan to enjoy Kyle Marvin’s film, but its general cheesiness and lack of surprises — flaws only mildly alleviated by the stars’ high spirits — are pretty good reasons to exercise caution.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Mar 20, 2023

It’s tame, like really tame, with a distinct 80s screwball comedy feel. The comedy is cringe-worthy but wholesome, and we laugh with the foibles, not at them.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Mar 18, 2023

‘80 for Brady’ Review: Four Iconic Leading Ladies Chase Their Super Bowl Fantasies in Soft ’Ball Comedy

Rita Moreno, Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Sally Field play smitten fans bound for the big game in this soft, easy-to-digest comedy that's less about what they do than the joy of doing it together.

By Peter Debruge

Peter Debruge

Chief Film Critic

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A sweet if toothless “Girls Trip” for the “Golden Girls” crowd, “80 for Brady” unites four Hollywood legends — “Grace and Frankie” duo Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda , Rita Moreno and Sally Field — as a real-life gang of octogenarian amigas who road-tripped to the 2017 Super Bowl to cheer on their favorite quarterback, Tom Brady. Selected as the opening-night cork-popper for the Palm Springs International Film Festival (whose diva-worshiping audience reps the two demographics this featherweight offering serves best: gay and gray), Kyle Marvin’s directorial debut is a pleasant enough reminder that these gals are still game for a good time.

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“80 for Brady” may be based on a true story, but it’s presented as pure fantasy: a low-key diversion for these dark and downbeat times. Its four stars are all icons who never stray too far from the personas they’ve created for themselves, though not-yet-80 Field has fun playing a socially awkward, statistics-loving math professor enjoying a bit of time away from her needy husband (Bob Balaban). A vivacious 91, Moreno dances circles around the others, energy-wise — even though the film’s two dance numbers aren’t choreographed or edited to show all that she can do. Fonda’s a hoot as a fan-fiction-writing former “Mayflower Girl” whose beauty-queen background explains the elephant in the room: her work and “what it cost to look like this.”

Mostly, it’s just a pleasure to watch these legends riff off one another, even if the jokes feel oddly patronizing, both to the characters and to its target audience. So many of the comedies Hollywood produces these days feature raunchy “adult” jokes, whereas “80 for Brady” plays it fairly clean. Bizarrely enough, that leaves the PG-13-rated film feeling like a kids movie much of the time, as the women come up with Nickelodeon-level plans to sneak into the stadium (as Billy Porter’s backup dancers) and give Brady the eleventh-hour pep talk he needs. Marvin and DP John Toll (you read that right: two-time Oscar winner John Toll) do a decent job of making it look like the quartet is at the big game, while Brady is a good sport playing both himself and the plastic bobblehead who kicks off the whole show.

Reviewed at Palm Springs Film Festival (opener), Jan. 6, 2023. MPA Rating: PG-13. Running time: 98 MIN.

• Production: A Paramount Pictures presentation, in association with Fifth Season, of a Tempesta Films, 199 Prod., Watch This Ready production. Producers: Donna Gigliotti, Tom Brady. Executive producers: Jeff Stott, Mike Covino, Kyle Marvin.
• Crew: Director: Kyle Marvin. Screenplay: Sarah Haskins & Emily Halpern. Camera: John Toll. Editor: Colin Patton. Music: John Debney.
• With: Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Rita Moreno, Sally Field, Tom Brady, Billy Porter, Rob Corddry, Alex Moffat, Guy Fieri, Harry Hamlin, Bob Balaban, Glynn Turman, Sara Gilbert, Jimmy O. Yang, Ron Funches, Matt Lauria, Sally Kirkland.

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Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, 80 for Brady Is a Wacky Good Time

Here is the ideal way to see the new movie 80 for Brady (in theaters February 3). You should still be wobbly from some kind of sinus something acquired more than a week prior, long ago enough that you have begun to wonder if this condition is maybe something far more sinister. Be approaching a scary milestone birthday, one looming close enough that pretty much any mundane thought can be quickly connected to mortal dread. Be alone in a theater midday, both made cozy and the teensiest bit threatened by all the empty dark surrounding you (much like death might be?). Feel raw about any number of things, from work stress to personal woes and insecurities to the state of a world teetering on the brink of becoming unrecognizable from what you once knew, back when you were young and bright. 

Creating those exact conditions might be a tall order, but the point is, Kyle Marvin ’s near-surrealist film—in which a group of elderly women travel to the 2017 Super Bowl to see their idol, Tom Brady , lead the New England Patriots to victory—is best watched with frayed nerves and an open heart. Be vulnerable to what the film is offering, and you might just—hypothetically! I’m not saying this definitely happened to someone this week!—cry four times throughout. 

Not that this is a heavy affair. 80 for Brady is mostly a weird lark, following four friends as they go on a wacky adventure to Houston and find new mettle in their twilight years. Lily Tomlin is Lou, the “quarterback” of the quartet and the most die-hard Pats fan among them. She and her pals became invested in the Patriots back when Lou was undergoing cancer treatment, a harrowing time that still haunts her. (Okay, maybe the movie is a little heavy.) Rita Moreno is Maura, who lives in a retirement community that her late husband loved, even though she would be just fine living independently in the house she still owns. Jane Fonda is Trish, a serial dater whose men always let her down; she’s also the author of niche-popular erotica novels (“fan fiction,” she calls it) about Patriots player Rob Gronkowski . Betty, played by Sally Field , is a rigid retired mathematics professor whose husband, played by Bob Balaban , relies on her too much, at the expense of her own autonomy. 

These characters are at times vaguely defined and, at others, sharply rendered. Which is far better than if they were simple stock caricatures: the serious one, the floozy, the firecracker, etc. Each actor is able to add her own idiosyncratic shading to this episodic film, a series of rambling set pieces that are consistently amusing if not always ha-ha funny. 80 for Brady is a loosely structured hang movie, albeit one that culminates in a curiously affecting emotional climax. The great hang movies of, say, Richard Linklater sure don’t end like 80 for Brady does. Linklater films also don’t feature Guy Fieri . 

Yes, he’s in the movie, popping up to emcee when Betty enters a hot wing eating contest. Later, Betty talks to the amiable Diners, Drive-Ins , and Dives host through the door of a porta-potty. Maura, zonked out on edibles, stumbles into a high-stakes poker game, at first hallucinating that everyone at the table is Mr. Fieri, his head freakishly grafted onto different bodies. (They are actually, among others, Patton Oswalt , Retta , and Billy Porter .) Not all of the movie’s strange moments involve the honorable mayor of Flavortown. In one brief scene, Betty learns the definition of “negging” after watching hotdogging Olympic skier Gus Kenworthy say something mean about brilliant internet comedian (and actor) Brian Jordan Alvarez ’s legs. Porter, playing Lady Gaga ’s halftime show choreographer, does a dance with the girls while a security guard watches on in intense admiration. Lou frequently has visions of Tom Brady speaking to her through Bobbleheads and video screens. 

Through all that loopy, arbitrary silliness, something sincere takes hold. We have come to expect the wistful notes of this particular genre: the necessary nods toward the finality of all things, to time either lost or happily used up. Field is spunky as ever—her relative youth means she’s a bit more in touch with contemporary rhythms and vernacular. But it is hard not to watch Moreno—such a lively comedian, still sparking away as ever—and think about her 91 years and how many more might be left. Fonda, bewigged and bedazzled, is still having fun in her late-in-life career resurgence, but a slowness has descended. Ditto Tomlin, saddled with by far the most morose character. There’s an inescapable sorrow to the film, as much as it wants to be—and is!—light and celebratory. 

Or maybe that’s just me. It is probably unfair to project my own mortal fears on a movie that, while cognizant of the creep of death, is simply trying to enjoy itself. I should probably meet the movie on its own terms. Which, I suppose, is easy enough, when there is its oddball energy to vibe on, its Dada riffs to ride all the way to a pleasingly sappy conclusion. Despite the Patriots being something of an evil empire in an otherwise troublesome sport, despite Brady maybe not being the best choice for hero worship, 80 for Brady sells the valorization. Not of Brady and the Patriots, exactly, but of anything grand and faraway that might give inspiration, shape, or meaning to the plod and ache and worry of existence. I’m glad these women—who are roughly based on real people—got to have this defining adventure, because why should anyone decent be denied such excitement? And I’m glad there’s 80 for Brady , a movie wise enough to be dumb, and blissfully heedless enough to suggest a party without end.

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Richard Lawson

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'80 for Brady' review: Believe it or not, this all-star football comedy charms your cleats off

Tom Brady is already thinking like a shrewd Hollywood type, announcing his retirement – maybe this one will take? – the same week his football flick “80 for Brady” is released. Or maybe the NFL’s quarterbacking great just caught the acting bug.

Brady certainly has some fine role models: Lily Tomlin , Sally Field , Jane Fonda and Rita Moreno star in the earnest but pleasant sports comedy (★★½ out of four; rated PG-13; in theaters Friday) as die-hard New England Patriots fans who travel to Houston to see their main man play. So if you ever wanted your mom to get into football, here’s your chance. 

Let's begin with Dolly Parton, Belinda Carlisle, more pop icons singing the official '80 for Brady' anthem

Friendship brings our Tom Brady-loving protagonists together

Set during the 2017 playoff season, director Kyle Marvin’s feature debut centers on Boston women Lou (Tomlin), Trish (Fonda), Betty (Field) and Maura (Moreno) as they root on their beloved Pats – but mostly the “beautiful and hydrated” QB – for another Super Bowl run. They’ve been watching football together since the pals came to help Lou when she had cancer and ended up watching Brady’s first game. Now, though, Lou wants to take a trip to the Big Game, so they enter a ticket giveaway, snag some seats and head off for an adventure.

'80 for Brady' pulls from a true story yet is conservative with the silly stuff

Fun fact: “80 for Brady” is based on a real-life club of elderly Brady fans, though “80” takes it in a far-fetched, fictionalized direction with nursing-home breakouts, accidental drug use, hot wing contests and so much awkward dancing. With a screenplay by Emily Halpern and Sarah Haskins – who worked on the genius “Booksmart” – it has a fun energy, especially when the main characters are left to their own devices, but often pumps the brakes before it goes too overboard. Leaning into something bonkers like “The Hangover,” however, would have been better than simply veering into familiar sports-movie territory.

All of the A-listers get their time in the spotlight

At least its quartet of famous actresses seems to be having fun and every main player gets her own character arc. Maura recently lost her husband and needs to be around her friends. Trish writes erotic Rob Gronkowski fan fiction though, in her own love life, tends to fall too hard too fast – and, of course, meets an attractive ex-footballer (Harry Hamlin) at the Super Bowl. Betty is a smart math professor tired of reading her husband’s academic papers and could use some spice in her life (which comes in the form of chicken wings). And Lou wants this journey to be an ultimate trip for the BFFs because she feels bad news might be on the horizon.

Cue the notable cameos – plus Patriots aplenty

"80 for Brady" is packed with familiar faces: Billy Porter has a role as a dance choreographer who befriends the core ladies, Flavortown favorite Guy Fieri plays himself and takes a liking to Betty's taste buds and comedian Ron Funches is a dogged security guard at the Super Bowl. The 2017 Patriots/Falcons game unfolds in the film's final act (no spoilers from six years ago but it's a pretty thrilling contest), and real players like Danny Amendola, Julian Edelman and Gronk (naturally) make an appearance.

But here's some news: Tom Brady can act!

Forget those bad Subway commercials: Brady, who is also a producer on the film, does a solid job playing himself. (Who could do better?) Screen Tom serves as Lou's imagined self-help guru early on in the movie and then Lou's able to return the favor and do the real quarterback a solid. Tomlin and Brady have the movie's most sentimental moment, proving he can throw a tight spiral and make you cry. So maybe there's life after football for the G.O.A.T. after all.

Read more about '80 for Brady' and football movies

• SAG Awards: Sally Field to receive lifetime achievement honor for her 'rich and layered career'
• 'I am feeling so blessed': Jane Fonda reveals cancer is in remission after chemotherapy
• 'I'm not that color': Rita Moreno pushed back against dark makeup in original 'West Side Story'
• Ranked: The 25 best football movies of all time

’80 for Brady’ Review: Fonda, Field, and Football Make For a Surprisingly Charming Combo

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'the union' review: mark wahlberg and halle berry are a kick-ass duo in netflix spy comedy, 'consumed' review: devon sawa horror is a wilderness creature feature.

Every year, or more like several times a year, we'll get a new comedy, marketed to an older audience, starring some of the Hollywood legends of yesteryear. Usually, these movies will have some kind of message about aging gracefully, they usually always feature either Diane Keaton or Jane Fonda (or both) or Morgan Freeman , and a lot of the comedy relies on the characters doing things that most people their age wouldn't do. There's been Book Club , Poms , Last Vegas , The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel , 5 Flights Up , and the list goes on and on. Some of these films have even landed sequels and while it may be easy to scoff at them, they have an audience, and oftentimes they're not half bad. Some of them are quite good or at the very least, charming.

80 for Brady is the latest in the said sub-genre and stars Lily Tomlin , Jane Fonda (there she is again), Rita Moreno , and Sally Field as four best friends and die-hard Tom Brady fans, who fly out to Houston, Texas, to see the New England Patriots face the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI. It also just so happens to star Brady himself, Guy Fieri , Billy Porter , and Rob Gronkowski , among many others. If that sounds outlandish to you that an Academy Award-winning actress like Sally Field would be sharing the screen with the King of Flavortown in a comedy produced by an NFL Quarterback, well maybe give the movie a shot first.

80 for Brady follows Lou, Trish, Maura, and Betty (Tomlin, Fonda, Moreno, and Field), whose love for Tom Brady and the New England Patriots knows no bounds. Watching Brady play helped Lou through her cancer treatment, Trish has found great success in writing erotica surrounding the Patriots, it helped Maura deal with the loss of her husband, and it has given Betty a release from her loving but workaholic husband ( Bob Balaban ). After entering a sweepstakes, the four friends end up traveling down to Houston to watch the now legendary game which featured the largest comeback in the history of the Super Bowl.

RELATED: Girls' Trip Movies Like '80 for Brady' For Every Generation to Watch

As silly as 80 for Brady sounds, there's surprisingly a lot to enjoy beyond just the novelty that a film like this exists. The plot is pretty much nonexistent and outside a sub-plot revolving around Lou and her daughter ( Sara Gilbert ), the stakes never feel high, nor should they. The chemistry between the four leading ladies is simply irresistible, and each of them gets a chance to score some major laughs. From Jane Fonda reading aloud Rob Gronkowski fan fiction to a captivated audience of Patriots fans, to Rita Moreno, high as a kite, stumbling into a celebrity poker game and hallucinating Guy Fieri's face everywhere, or Sally Field unintentionally flirting with a man much younger than her, the humor is simple and not the most original, but it's the delivery from the actresses that makes it work. All four women are so gleefully committed to their roles, clearly having the times of their lives, and it's hard not to giggle and smile right along with them.

Much like the recent reboot of House Party , which constantly made comments about just how great its producer LeBron James is, 80 for Brady spends a good amount of time having its main characters talk about just how handsome they find Brady. Though, unlike House Party where it feels like one giant vanity project that wants its audience to laugh with it, not at it, 80 for Brady feels much more in on the joke. While it does certainly feel like one giant commercial for the NFL and Brady himself, it is never taking itself too seriously. Brady's name may be plastered all over the film, but at the same time, a lot of the best jokes have nothing to do with him. There's an abundance of cameos but none of them go as far as to overshadow the four leads and instead let them continue to shine in the spotlight and be the loose cannons that they rarely get to be on-screen.

From a filmmaking and a technical standpoint, there's nothing that truly stands out from 80 for Brady outside Sarah Haskins and Emily Halpern 's script. While this is the perfect kind of comedy to see with an active crowd, it also likely wouldn't work nearly as well in an empty theater or watching it at home on TV. It has a certain sitcom or streaming-like feel to it and seems far more interested in letting the award-winning actresses headlining the film carry the film on their shoulders. Haskins and Halpern's writing is paired perfectly with Tomlin, Fonda, Moreno, and Field's sensibilities, and as corny as the film is, the jokes work, and has an enormous heart that it wears proudly. Mixed in with all the shenanigans, the film has a strong emotional core, it's not going to make you leave the theaters in tears, but there is a genuine sweetness to the film.

80 for Brady never once feels mean-spirited, and while you likely already know how the film is going to play out beat-for-beat, it also feels like a warm hug. It's not going to challenge you or make you feel emotionally drained or walk out of the theater feeling like a different person, it's the perfect kind of comedy to take your mom to or go see with your friends after having a few $5 Margaritas at Applebee's. 80 for Brady is not the new golden standard of sports comedies, but it was clearly never trying to be. It's cute, silly, and light, all things that a comfort movie should be. At a little over 90 minutes, it never overstays its welcome and has that kind of sincereness that made us fall in love with shows like Ted Lasso and Abbott Elementary . The corniness might become a little bit too overkill for some audience members, but for many others, 80 for Brady will feel like a game well played.

80 for Brady is now playing in theaters everywhere.

• Movie Reviews
• Sally Field

80 for Brady Review

A surprisingly funny and heartfelt comedy with less tom brady than you'd expect..

Despite its trailer hinting at an over-qualified cast selling something slight, 80 for Brady is a surprising (if scattered) romp with a beating heart. It has a deceptively simple conceit: respected actresses Jane Fonda, Sally Field, Rita Moreno, and Lily Tomlin play four aged best friends eager to travel to the 2017 Super Bowl to catch a glimpse of their favorite quarterback, Tom Brady; cue the age-inappropriate shenanigans.

Based somewhat on a true story (which is to say, a group of women in their 80s who gather to watch Brady play each weekend, but without the comedy of road trip errors), 80 for Brady is helmed by first-time feature director Kyle Marvin. His inexperience shows early on, when each joke settles into a rote rhythm as the movie cuts to close-ups for each punchline before immediately cutting back to wider group shots. The effect here is two-fold. First, the constant over-emphasis feels akin to an outdated laugh track, adding the exact same punctuation to every moment, whether or not it needs or deserves it. Second, it robs its leading quartet of the opportunity to sell each joke with their body language and interpersonal dynamics. More focus on the way they interact and play off each other’s energies might have helped things get off to a stronger start,t in a film about friendship, and one that opens with the four lead characters gathering for a 2017 playoff game involving Brady’s team at the time, the New England Patriots, and engaging in superstitions rituals with amusing fervor, while introducing themselves to the audience.

IGN's Twenty Questions - Guess the game!

However, these missteps slowly begin to fall by the wayside once its four Bostonian ladies decide to watch the Super Bowl in Houston, no matter what it takes. The adventure yanks them far away from the close quarters of the domestic opening scene, so the movie has little choice but to let its legendary collective of actors dictate the comedic rhythms (it also helps that it was shot by two time Oscar-winning cinematographer John Toll, whose eye for framing characters is on display here). Along the way, the group’s mis-adventures include (among other things) a hot wings contest, an impromptu dance, and a drug-induced trip through a fancy party – all scenarios which become doubly funny when you place older women at their center rather than the traditional frat boy.

These events are all glimpsed in the marketing, but what the trailers don’t fully reveal is how each scene (and the story in totality) works thanks to individual characterizations, and a script – by Sarah Haskins and Emily Halpern – that ultimately centers around trusting and relying on your friends, and finding a second wind in old age. It’s fairly sweet, with a sentimentality born from each character having a rich, complex interiority that clashes wordlessly with their outward behavior.

Sex-symbol Fonda plays Trish, a divorced woman with a string of romantic bad luck. She’s an author of NFL-centric erotic fan fiction, and she puts a ton of effort into still looking her seductive best, though her dedication to the group’s Super Bowl mission is occasionally tested once she’s distracted by a sexual pursuit. Granted, the digital makeover inexplicably applied to her face leaves her looking a little too smooth and unreal — a decision that’s especially strange in a movie explicitly about older women — but it’s a role that could have so easily been flattened into a one-note stereotype. Instead, Fonda imbues it with a touching tense of regret and frequent, silent questions of what living in the present even means when the past has offered up nothing but disappointment.

What's Tom Brady's best movie or TV cameo?

Field plays the flipside to that coin. Her character, retired probability professor Betty, is the youngest of the group (the frequent mentions of their fan club name, “80 for Brady,” are always accompanied by her reminders that she’s only 70) and she’s spent 50 years married to her husband, who is now dependent on her care. She’s seen as the responsible one in the bunch, which Field expertly portrays through both uptight neuroses and quiet acceptance. The group sees Betty as having a picture-perfect life, but perhaps more than the rest of them she’s in need of a new adventure to find parts of herself she left behind.

Moreno’s character, Maura, reflects another aspect of octogenarian life as it pertains to the group’s rejuvenation. She’s a respected and romantically sought-after member of her retirement community, which keeps its residents young through daily activities. But there’s also a sense that her jovial second wind is a way to stave off the grief of losing her husband the previous year. In a film that’s all about having fun in old age, that’s a pretty complicated approach to the subject, but one that Moreno embodies with grace and poise.

And finally, there’s Tomlin’s Lou, the de facto protagonist, and a woman whose encroaching mortality is the entire impetus that kickstarts the old girls’ trip in the first place. However, Lou refuses to let her anxieties about death (and her ensuing denial about facing it) be known, lest they dampen the group’s spirits). The most comically excitable fan in the bunch, she discovered her love for football at a vulnerable time, and her decisions are now guided by words of advice offered by Brady in his many televised interviews. Brady is a producer on the film, so it’s no surprise that his greatness is treated as a given, and he’s often seen through Lou’s eyes (that said you could finish this story knowing as much or little about him, or about American football, as when you began). However, despite the often hilariously broad reverence for Brady, Tomlin approaches Lou’s questionable degree of hero worship with such affection that her performance essentially overpowers his constant background presence, all but reducing him from a sports star to a conceptual stand-in for any motivating reason to keep moving forward in old age.

80 for Brady Stills

Tomlin could probably sell the role if her new lease on life depended on eating a really special hot dog. In a just world, she’d join her three co-stars as an Academy Award winner for this movie. The rest of it may not be polished or prestigious enough to land on the Academy’s radar, but Tomlim commands the screen with verve, as a woman wrestling between her fears of death and her desire to have one last big bucket list adventure – which she sells with such a joyful, infectious radiance that she occasionally elevates 80 for Brady into an exuberant experience.

Granted, things often come easy for the women during their hunt for big game tickets — problems that seem dire always have sudden solutions, usually involving celebrity cameos — but where the plot has scant few twists and turns, its story of four women making up for lost time feels fulfilling enough.

While its script is often scattered and convenient, 80 for Brady is also a surprisingly effective movie, in which the “Brady” of it all doesn’t matter nearly as much as the bonds of friendship. Its four legendary actresses embark on the comedy-adventure of a lifetime, proving they’ve still got tricks up their sleeve, as they deliver sentimental performances that also make for a fun watch.

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The Seven Stages of Watching 80 For Brady

I walked into the Regal Union Square at 12 p.m. on a Saturday afternoon. My soul is still stranded there.

But when it comes to the film 80 For Brady , in theaters today—and produced by, yes, Tom Brady—my distaste for the man is more than counterbalanced by original music from national treasure and pseudo-religious figure, Dolly Parton . When you add in the reunion of Grace and Frankie stars, Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda, alongside Norma Rae and the woman who practically invented dancing in a purple dress, the scales were effectively slammed in favor of yours truly seeing this movie. But I did. For journalism. And because I'm sick.

Let’s make something else very clear–this is not a review. Reviews are for Oscar contenders, embarrassing blockbuster busts, and money-grabs. 80 For Brady vibrates on a different frequency. In fact, I would have no idea where to start with a review. 80 For Brady happened to me in stages—stages both aggressive and gentle, like a kitten, if that kitten were rabid. You could fight it, but why would you?

There are ten core cast members in 80 For Brady : Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Sally Field, Rita Moreno , Tom Brady, Guy Fieri, Lisa Rinna’s Husband Harry Hamlin, Jane Fonda’s Wig Collection, and the Incomparable Billy Porter. I will only be referring to them by these names. Let me guide you through 80 For Brady , so that your very soul will not be laid to rest next to mine at the Regal Union Square for all of eternity. Seven rings. Seven stages.

Stage One: Yelling in Tom Brady

You see, if you didn’t pick it up from the title, this is a film that centers around Tom Brady. But the trick is that it doesn’t exactly require him to do much. This period piece kicks off on a playoff Sunday in 2017. The scene: Lily Tomlin’s living room, where she has assembled her gal pals for another Sunday of watching Tom Brady play football. Adorned in Patriots gear, these ladies have a rhythm: a superstition, if you will. To ensure that the Patriots win, Jane Fonda and one of her blonde wigs must be reading a book in the dining room. Sally Field must be on a ladder. Rita Moreno should be sipping tea. Right before kickoff? Lily Tomlin must turn over a bowl of chips. If all four things happen, then Tom has everything he needs to win.

The girls sit together and make jokes about their age. (Sally Field is not 80! Jane Fonda is a floozy!) Then, they talk about how beautiful Tom Brady is. Not my love language, but you do you, ladies.

Right before the film started, I had a mild panic that I hadn’t bought enough snacks. In addition to a mimosa, poured into an 80 For Brady- branded wine glass, I also got a Diet Pepsi, a small popcorn, an entire bag of Sour Patch Children, and three (3) large pretzel sticks. When all four women stood up on screen to attempt the wave while screaming, "Tooooooom Brady!" I knew that I had made the correct decision. This was going to be my Iliad .

After winning the AFC Championship, the Patriots will head to Super Bowl LI. The four women have a conversation about the Super Bowl party they want to plan. Mind you, I was initially unaware that this film was based on four octogenarians who actually went to the Super Bowl to see Tom Brady. Suddenly, it hit me, like one of those scenes in the Disney channel original series That’s So Raven when she has a vision : this art, produced and starring Tom Brady, wasn’t something a writer pulled out of thin air. This was a fictionalized story within the real-life timeline of when the Patriots went to the Super Bowl in 2017. Tom Brady was producing fan fiction about how much he was loved. I was enraged. Lightheaded. And I was approximately 11 minutes into 80 For Brady .

Stage Two: Mild Concern and Chaotic Character Building

These four women decide to actually go to the Super Bowl, via a contest on a televised radio show. Anyway, the entrant with the best story wins four tickets. Lily Tomlin convinces her buddies that they should leverage their friendship to get these tickets. Jane Fonda calls between writing her erotic fiction about Rob Gronkowski. (This is not a joke, but rather, an important plot point.) Sally Field calls, despite her intensely insecure husband bothering her about an academic paper he’s writing. Rita Moreno calls and has her entire retirement community do the same. But the caller you really need to focus on is Lily Tomlin. It’s through her call that we learn how this Tom Brady obsession started.

Lily Tomlin had cancer. She was going through chemotherapy and her friends—and her friend’s brunette wig—were there supporting her. While getting her settled, they discovered the remote was busted. Unable to change the television, the women were drawn into the game on the screen. A young rookie by the name of Tom Brady was thrown into the mix that day, and he led the Patriots to victory. A tradition began.

After all that calling, it turns out their efforts were worth it. The Ladies, Over 80—Except Sally Field, Who Is Not Over 80—Were Poised to Go Watch Brady.

Stage Three: Unbridled, Old Lady Mania

It’s at this point in the story when someone involved with this film—Tom Brady, director Kyle Marvin, that cheeky bastard Rob Gronkowski—mashed their foot on the gas pedal and did not let off until the end of the movie. For no reason in particular, we learn that Rita Moreno is on two medications: one for blood pressure and one for sleeping. The sleeping pills are rather strong, and you guessed it! She took the wrong ones, right before the quad was supposed to leave for the Super Bowl.

When the other three women drive to pick her up, she's locked in her room. As a last-ditch effort, one character comes to the rescue: Jane Fonda’s Wig Collection. Jane Fonda picks out one of her special girls from the trunk, where they’re all packed neatly. She puts it on and distracts the retirement home’s coordinator while Sally Field and Lily Tomlin sneak Rita Moreno out. She awakes on the way to the airport, screams out in joy, and that’s the end of that plotline.

The women make it to Houston and settle in. At this point, Lily Tomlin gets a call from her daughter, Sara Gilbert, who you probably know from Roseanne or that slightly less interesting version of The View . We learn that Lily Tomlin has been ignoring calls from her doctor, who recently conducted scans to check up on her remission. But right now, Lily Tomlin will not be addressing that. Not when they have a full weekend ahead.

Stage Four: Flavortown

At breakfast the next day, the women decide to give Sally Field the four tickets, as she’s the most responsible of the four. She loudly announces that she will store them safely in her strap-on. Yes, her strap-on. As it turns out, this is her fanny pack, which she straps on... to her body. Get your head out of the gutter, you sodomite. The four women embark on different plans throughout the day. Jane Fonda learns that her published Gronkowski erotica is actually a deeply beloved series followed by NFL fans, including a two-time Super Bowl champion and eventual love interest, played by Lisa Rinna’s Husband, Harry Hamlin.

Elsewhere, Sally Field is simply hungry. She finds a spicy-wing-eating competition hosted by Guy Fieri, because why not? She enters—only for the wings—and wins, because it turns out that old people cannot taste things.* In the throes of Sally's excitement, she leaves her strap-on laying on the stage. But who among us could be held accountable for such a transgression when Lisa Rinna’s Husband Harry Hamlin and Guy Fieri are inviting you and your three friends to a swanky party later in the night? The women leave to get ready for the party. The fate of the tickets remains in the balance.

* This is played for comedic effect, but it struck a particularly existential cord in me. At what age will my sense of taste fade? Has it started already? Is that why I find the flavor of these middling pretzel sticks both fleeting and offensive?

Stage Five: Earnest Dissociation From Reality

At this point, I begin taking stock of the women on the screen. Rita Moreno is a goddamn EGOT winner. Lily Tomlin is only an Oscar away from doing the same. Jane Fonda is only second to Swedish activist Greta Thunberg when it comes to people who have advocated for environmental preservation. (Eat it, Al Gore!) Sally Field… I mean, my God, Sally Field is an American treasure. She’s Gidget, for Christ’s sake. And yet, at this party, three of these women are drugged with some kind of gummy edible that messes them up beyond all recognition. At the same time, the women come to realize that Sally Field has lost her strap-on. All hell breaks loose.

The key to fixing this—as is the key to most things in life—is to find Guy Fieri. If anyone knows where your strap-on is, it’s Guy Fieri. Rita Moreno goes upstairs and finds a mask, puts it on, whispers " Eyes Wide Shut ," and stumbles upon a poker game where every person playing is Guy Fieri. Then she looks in a mirror and she, too, is Guy Fieri. By the time she comes to, she has swept the entire poker game, taking money from everyone, but most notably, the Incomparable Billy Porter. Excited that these winnings might be enough to get the tickets back, she wins one final hand before discovering the whole game was for charity. She donates it to the charity of the Incomparable Billy Porter’s choice and leaves. The foursome decides to resume searching the next day. It seems like all hope is lost.

By the way, if you’re wondering where Tom Brady is in all of this: he appears at random and speaks directly to Lily Tomlin’s character, but no one else sees it. At this point, Lily Tomlin has a conversation with Tom Brady via a television monitor. He tells her to hold onto hope. In a way, I feel like he’s telling me to do the same.

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Sally Field tracks down Guy Fieri, and in turn, her strap-on. When the four women attempt to get into the game though, the security guard tells them they’ve been scammed. Jane Fonda has already discovered, earlier in the film, that the tickets were not from the contest. You see, she tracked down the guys from that recorded podcast, who informed her that the real winners were a foursome of guys all named Tom Brady. So when the tickets come up as a scam, Lily Tomlin’s three friends finally ask her: Lily Tomlin, what is going on?

Turns out, Lily Tomlin sold her car and some other things to buy the tickets online. Why would she do such a thing? Because this might be their last hoorah, because she’s certain that she’s dying. No one is more shocked than me to discover moisture on my face. I look up to the ceiling to see if this, the Regal Union Square, has a leaking roof. But no. I am crying. I am livid. I do not want to see Lily Tomlin die. Not in this film and not in real life. God, if you’re reading, take me first.

Before you start crying too, let me continue. The Incomparable Billy Porter is nearby. And he’s going into the game. Why? Because he’s Lady Gaga’s choreographer. I let out an audible gasp as he escorts the women into the stadium.

Stage Six: Fuck It.

By now, I cannot feel my face. I have not had more than one alcoholic beverage, and if I’m being frank, it wasn’t strong. The women make their way in, where another security guard says that without proper credentials, the women will have to do something to prove they should get backstage access. That’s when a full dance number happens. I do not remember putting my hands into the air, but that’s where they were as the entire sequence unfolded on screen. I start to imagine what state I would be in if my personal hero, Bills quarterback Josh Allen, had produced this movie, but that’s a moot point because he’s not an actual sociopath.

The women get into the game, but the win is short-lived. After being featured on the Jumbotron, that mean security guard finds them in their 80 For Brady-branded jerseys and tries to escort them out. That’s when Lisa Rinna’s Husband Harry Hamlin arrives and escorts them to a private box to finish watching the Super Bowl. If you remember, Super Bowl LI was a rough one for the Patriots. Down by 25 points, the Patriots were almost certainly going to lose. Against the Atlanta Falcons, no less. Mortifying.

It’s at this point that the women have a plan. They’ll break into the coach’s booth and coach the game themselves. I am physically still in the Regal, but my spirit is floating above that reimagined game. I am convinced: I have traveled to this alternate timeline. Sally Field calls a play in place of the defensive coordinator Lily Tomlin grabs a microphone and makes a direct plea to Tom Brady. The two of them aren’t unlike, apparently. She survived cancer and he… well, he’s Tom Brady. He survived Deflategate. They must look to the future, not the present! And if she can fight, then he can fight. Again, I’m emotional, though I cannot find the word for which emotion it is. Tom Brady listens to every word, then looks to his team and says, “Let’s fucking go!” The crowd at Regal giggles.

For you non-football fans, the game really was, at one point, 28 to 3. In the fourth quarter, the Patriots wrestled it back to 28-28 before going into overtime and winning. At the end of the game (and film), the women are escorted to the locker room, where they meet their heroes. It’s here that Lily Tomlin actually sits down with Tom Brady for the first time. He tells her that she is his hero, then offers a jersey swap: his sweaty one for her bedazzled one. They hug and promise to stay in touch.

Stage Seven: I Need Oxygen and Several More Sour Patch Children Delivered to the Regal Union Square

In these final moments of the movie, I struggle to hear the dialogue because we have descended into the final circle: a heartfelt exchange between Tom Brady and Lily Tomlin, which now has the entire theater in full hysterics. Some people are hootin'. Some are hollerin.’ Others are simply chuckling as alternate-universe Brady shares a sincere—and yet, somewhat sensual and sexual?!—moment with Lily Tomlin. We don’t know if Lily Tomlin is going to survive. We don’t know if Jane Fonda and Gronkowski are literally banging in the corner, which 80 For Brady sets this up as a valid possibility). All I can see is Tom Brady giving his entire soul to this performance. It reminds me of the time I tried to run a 10K without proper training—you have to tip a hat to the effort, but the pavement is not for me. And acting is not for Tom Brady.

The direction of this scene haunted me for days after. Part of me thinks that Brady intentionally stayed out of the film, knowing his limitations. Part of me feels like he actually filmed a lot more than what we saw and it was all cut. But the theory I’ve chosen to settle on is that Tom Brady understands camp more than any of us would ever give him credit for, and this—this overwrought, ridiculous conclusion—is perhaps Tom Brady’s finest work to date.

In the future, the women continue to get together to root for Tom Brady, though their allegiance has now shifted to the Buccaneers. Sally Field, Rita Moreno, and Jane Fonda continue the tradition, along with Lily Tomlin’s daughter, Darlene From Roseanne . I am stunned to see that the writers of this film have made a controversial choice to bid adieu to Lily Tomlin—but that’s quickly squashed, as we learn that Lily is simply in the kitchen getting more chips.

With that, reader, I left the Regal Union Square a changed man. I had not realized Lisa Rinna’s Husband Harry Hamlin had aged so well.

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Screen Rant

80 for brady review: lighthearted sports dramedy boasts captivating cast.

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Real-life Tom Brady super fans, Elaine, Betty, Anita, Pat, and Claire are the women who inspired director Kyle Marvin’s 80 For Brady . An engaging and lighthearted story about long-lasting female friendships, Sarah Haskins and Emily Halpern’s script is crowd-pleasing in all the right ways. The film stars Hollywood veterans Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Rita Moreno, and Sally Field with seven-time Superbowl Champion and producer Tom Brady. In their quest to attend Superbowl LI, the four best friends encounter heartache, healing, and the reminder that friendship equates to lifelong support. Thanks to the special cast chemistry, 80 For Brady ’s charm shines through despite being good for only a single watch.

80 For Brady , loosely inspired by a true story, follows longtime best friends Betty (Field), Trish (Fonda), Lou (Tomlin), and Maura (Moreno) on their quest to take a wild trip to the 2017 Superbowl. Originators of the Tom Brady fan club for seniors, the quartet find themselves on a desperate hunt for tickets to enjoy one last celebration together. All their dreams appear to come true when one contest grants them an experience of a lifetime. And as they journey towards the best day of their lives, they realize it’s not the experience that they’ve longed for — it’s the time with each other.

Related: Jane Fonda & Lily Tomlin Are Tom Brady Superfans In 80 For Brady Trailer

Haskins and Halpern’s script is a gentle reminder that there’s no age limit to having fun. Through Trish, Betty, Maura, and Lou, 80 For Brady celebrates female friendships in a setting that borrows from the likes of buddy comedies and sports dramas . Tomlin’s Lou is recovering from chemotherapy while Trish is recuperating from her latest heartbreak. Then, there’s Maura, who can’t get over the loss of her husband while Betty longs to gain freedom from hers. These various personalities and life experiences play out with such charm and appeal that it'll be hard not to have a smile on one’s face.

While the film is based on a true story, there’s no doubt the filmmakers behind 80 For Brady took liberties in creating an exaggerated version of the quartet’s Superbowl experience. Yet, everything that happens in the film is well-intentioned and designed to garner organic laughs, and they succeeded in doing so. Despite the lighthearted tone, there are moments in which the story concentrates on real-life issues related to cancer, death, and love — all to which audiences can relate. Additionally, the transitions to such topics are seamless and feel natural to the development of the story. As a result, 80 For Brady isn’t just an easy watch, it’s an enjoyable and touching one.

With all the ridiculous things that happen throughout Marvin’s sports comedy, it’s easy to look at the film as a throw-away ad to convince its viewers that women can enjoy football. Admittedly, the script isn’t entirely credible in that regard, as their interest in football initiates after fawning over Tom Brady’s handsomeness in early sequences. But once these hackneyed jokes are out of the way and the pace becomes more consistent, the script soars into an exciting adventure that emphasizes the importance of friendship. And with knockout performances from the film’s leads, 80 For Brady is exactly the kind of film to enjoy right before the Superbowl.

Full of heart, humor, and a centralized focus on friendship even in old age, Marvin’s latest sports dramedy is a fun and heartwarming film for everyone. The slowed pace early on enables viewers to understand each character well enough. It then picks up, resulting in an enjoyable experience and laughs at every turn. Thanks to charming performances from the film's leads, who are friends on and off-screen, it’s easy to see why these four were chosen to represent the value of friendship even through life’s ups and downs. And while it doesn’t break any genre barriers or require multiple viewers, 80 For Brady does everything it set out to accomplish as far as entertainment goes.

More: You Hurt My Feelings Review: Charming Cast Elevates Enjoyable Comedy [Sundance]

80 For Brady released in theaters on February 3. The film is 98 minutes long and rated PG-13 for strong language, some suggestive references, and some drug content.

80 for Brady

80 for Brady is a comedy/sports movie loosely based on the true story of a group of best friends who went on a road trip to see Brady and the Patriots play in Super Bowl LI. Jane Fonda, Sally Field, Rita Moreno, and Lily Tomlin play the four best friends who share a lifelong goal of meeting Tom Brady and seeing their favorite team play at the year's most prominent American sporting event of each year. 

• 3 star movies
• Movie Reviews

’80 for Brady’ is partially saved by its four leading ladies

The best parts of '80 for brady' have nothing to do with tom brady..

By Kevin Slane

Watching “80 for Brady,” the first movie from Tom Brady’s new production company, it’s impossible to deny the thrill of seeing a living legend on the silver screen.

I’m speaking, of course, about Rita Moreno. 

At 91 years old, the EGOT-winning actress can still land a one-liner, move an audience to tears, and bust out a dance move or two when asked.

If nothing else, “80 For Brady” deserves kudos for giving Moreno, Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, and Sally Field a starring vehicle in 2023. The film is full of sitcom-level jokes, Screenwriting 101 plotting, and cameos from former Patriots stars that play out exactly as expected. But even the most generic movie can’t be all bad when you have a quartet like this at the center of it.

Loosely inspired by a real-life group of senior citizen Patriots fans , “80 for Brady” begins in 2001 in the living room of Lou (Tomlin), who is finishing up chemotherapy. Joined by her closest friends, they watch as an injured Drew Bledsoe is replaced by a young, unproven Tom Brady at quarterback.

Fast-forward to 2017, and all of the women remain united in their Sunday tradition, celebrating Brady’s successes and commiserating over their personal life issues. Betty (Field), a brainy MIT professor, is burdened by running the life of her scatterbrained academic husband (Bob Balaban). Maura (Moreno) is reeling from the death of her husband and waffling on whether to move out of their senior living community. Trish (Fonda), a former model, keeps falling in love with the wrong guys, and worries about maintaining her looks as she ages.

With a collective worry that this might be the last hurrah both for 39-year-old Brady and for themselves, Lou proposes a trip to Houston to watch the Patriots take on the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI. From there, “80 for Brady” becomes a broad comedy, with the leading ladies playing the conquering heroines against a parade of younger comedic foils. 

In quick succession, the gang sneaks a passed-out Maura past an overeager nursing home attendant (Jimmy O. Yang, “Silicon Valley”), schools a cocky Falcons fan at a passing competition, encounters an overeager stadium security guard (Ron Funches, “Loot”), enters a hot wing-eating contest hosted by Guy Fieri, and accidentally takes edibles at a swanky party. It’s all pretty straightforward, but seeing these four at the center of it all — instead of someone like Adam Sandler or Seth Rogen — is a delight.

There are also parts of “80 for Brady” that simply don’t work. The film intersperses quick scenes and voiceovers from two local sports radio hosts (Alex Moffat and Weymouth native Rob Corddry) that feel overused and tonally off from the rest of the film. A mid-film plot twist involving a health scare for one of the film’s heroines feels emotionally manipulative and doesn’t serve much function beyond marking the start of the third act.

Most glaringly, “80 for Brady” cannot escape the fact that, at its core, it’s a movie about the greatness of Tom Brady. Almost no one in America, and certainly not in New England, is unfamiliar with Brady’s storied career. It’s been recapped and rehashed not only on countless telecasts, but by Brady himself in a 10-part ESPN documentary, a weekly SiriusXM podcast, and a book promoting his TB12 products. Throughout the film, characters will matter-of-factly proclaim their love for Tom, or break out an impromptu “Tom Brady!” chant or dance. Brady also appears as a spirit to Tomlin’s character, giving her pep talks and urging her on. He even gets one scene where he attempts some dramatic acting, and the less that’s said about it, the better.

The reality is that Paramount probably didn’t have faith in the box office potential of a slice-of-life film about the lifelong friendship between four funny women without folding in the Brady bits, which is a shame. If making a big-screen hagiography of the former Patriots quarterback is the only way to get Tomlin, Fonda, Field, and Moreno on screen together, then “80 for Brady” is a worthwhile endeavor. Here’s hoping that much like Brady’s post-Patriots career, there continues to be a place for these four ladies to do what they do best.

Rating: ** stars (out of 4)

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80 For Brady Reviews Are In, See What Critics Are Saying About The Tom Brady-Centric Buddy Comedy

The octogenarians are going to the Super Bowl!

Tom Brady ’s name may be in the title of the upcoming film 80 for Brady , but the real stars are its four Hollywood icons — Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Rita Moreno and Sally Field — portraying a quartet of 80-something New England Patriots fans who hit the road to see their team play in the 2017 Super Bowl. The movie has caught some flak from social media users who are just finding out the plot, but now the reviews are here, so critics can give us a better idea of what to expect before it hits theaters on February 3 .

With everything Tom Brady has been through over the past year – from his retirement and un-retirement to his divorce from Gisele Bündchen – many are curious to see what acting chops the famed NFL quarterback brings to the screen (in the movie that he also produced). And with a trailer showing the pairing of Jane Fonda, Guy Fieri and football , what could go wrong? Let’s take a look at what the critics are saying. 

Leigh Monson of the AV Club grades the movie a C, saying that 80 for Brady relies on sight gags and celebrity cameos to make up for a lack of wit, but the genuine chemistry of the four leading actresses makes up for the film’s shortcomings. The critic continues: 

Ultimately, these four women are what save 80 For Brady from itself. For such a mediocre effort, it still manages to come across as watchable and charming because Tomlin, Field, Fonda, and Moreno are all such likable presences. The film is by no means distinctive, hilarious, or memorable in any way, but, for as cloying as this attempt at Brady brand rehabilitation could have been, it’s a testament to the magnetic appeal of ageless stars who know how to carry a film to the end zone.

Fran Hoepfner of The Wrap says Tom Brady even shows some star quality, giving off a sense of unreality that fits the tone of the movie. Not surprisingly, Sally Field, Rita Moreno, Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin do not disappoint, according to the review: 

80 For Brady is undeniably a shiny piece of NFL propaganda, a film so in love with its own money-making apparatus that it’s hard not to find it at least somewhat evil. But the performances land and are often endearing, with all four women in particularly strong form.

Vince Mancini of Uproxx calls the movie “a weirdly fascinating train wreck,” and while he admits he didn’t think 80 for Brady would be his cup of tea, he was drawn in. The critic explains:  

80 For Brady was like a weird mushroom trip, and I found myself oddly fascinated by it all. In this jaded age of media saturation, we rarely credit wondering ‘how did they do that?’ as a question that compels us to keep watching anymore. And yet, that question was as consistently on my mind during 80 for Brady as it was during Avatar. Which actors were actually in the room during this scene? Which parts of this were shot on location and which in a makeshift studio six months later? What lines used to be in this scene that someone forgot or flubbed and the director was too polite to ask them to redo them?

Peter Debruge of Variety is one of several critics to point out that no football fandom is required, as 80 for Brady plays more as a buddy comedy than a sports film. It does celebrate the fact that women can love football too, the critic says, even if the central foursome are possibly more interested in how Tom Brady looks in his uniform than how he plays the game. He continues: 

80 for Brady may be based on a true story, but it’s presented as pure fantasy: a low-key diversion for these dark and downbeat times. Its four stars are all icons who never stray too far from the personas they’ve created for themselves, though not-yet-80 Field has fun playing a socially awkward, statistics-loving math professor enjoying a bit of time away from her needy husband (Bob Balaban). A vivacious 91, Moreno dances circles around the others, energy-wise — even though the film’s two dance numbers aren’t choreographed or edited to show all that she can do. Fonda’s a hoot as a fan-fiction-writing former ‘Mayflower Girl’ whose beauty-queen background explains the elephant in the room: her work and ‘what it cost to look like this.’

Sheri Linden of The Hollywood Reporter says Sarah Haskins and Emily Halpern’s screenplay provided the four leads with “terrifically droll lines,” but the actresses, Lily Tomlin especially, effortlessly elevate the material. The critic continues: 

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As for the story itself, most of which is not set in the stadium, it’s a variously awkward, sweet and silly amalgam of day-to-day reality, sitcom zaniness and pure worship fantasy — those worshipped being, understandably, its glorious leading ladies. … Directed by Kyle Marvin, an indie producer (The Climb) at the helm of his first film, 80 for Brady lays out all its plays right on the surface, sometimes ploddingly. It’s when Marvin stands back and lets his stars loose that the film finds traction, delighting in their skill at bringing expert devil-in the-details flourishes to the obvious setups.

It sounds like regardless of how big a Tom Brady fan you are or which team (if any) your loyalty lies with, 80 for Brady is more about the friendships between the four octogenarians than it is about the Super Bowl (though I’m genuinely curious to know if ANY Atlanta Falcons fans will be willing to relive the game this movie is centered around). 

For those who want to see what Jane Fonda, Rita Moreno, Lily Tomlin and Sally Field can do when sharing the screen together, you’ll be able to catch 80 for Brady in theaters starting on Friday, February 3. You can also take a look at our 2023 Movie Release Schedule to see what other films are coming soon. 

Heidi Venable is a Content Producer for CinemaBlend, a mom of two and a hard-core '90s kid. She started freelancing for CinemaBlend in 2020 and officially came on board in 2021. Her job entails writing news stories and TV reactions from some of her favorite prime-time shows like Grey's Anatomy and The Bachelor. She graduated from Louisiana Tech University with a degree in Journalism and worked in the newspaper industry for almost two decades in multiple roles including Sports Editor, Page Designer and Online Editor. Unprovoked, will quote Friends in any situation. Thrives on New Orleans Saints football, The West Wing and taco trucks.

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• DVD & Streaming

80 for Brady

Content caution.

In Theaters

• February 3, 2023
• Rita Moreno as Mara; Sally Field as Betty; Lily Tomlin as Lou; Jane Fonda as Trish; Harry Hamlin as Dan; Sara Gilbert as Sara; Tom Brady as Himself

Home Release Date

• March 21, 2023
• Kyle Marvin

Distributor

• Paramount Pictures

Movie Review

Betty, Trish, Louella and Mara look like the most unlikely football superfans. And but for one sticky TV remote, they never would have been.

It all started some years back when the elderly friends were gathering to support Lou, who had just finished a round of chemotherapy. They decided to watch some TV together, but couldn’t get the glitchy channel changer to work, so they ended up settling for a football game of all things.

They collectively knew very little about the sport—other than it dealt with a ball and a lot of running around. But then they spotted a handsome young quarterback named Brady. They started cheering him on. And before you know it, they were having a good time.

Sixteen years later, it’s 2017. And these four now-octogenarians still gather regularly to cheer their quarterback and support their team. This year, however, the New England Patriots are going to the Super Bowl. And instead of just having another get together for the big game, Lou suggests that they go see the game, and Mr. Brady himself, in person.

Then she arranges to get them tickets.

What the other gals don’t realize, however, is that Lou had gone into the hospital for some recent tests … and she fears the worst.

This then could be the trip of a lifetime. In more ways than one.

Positive Elements

These four friends love each other dearly. And they’re ready to give voice to that sincere affection whenever it’s needed. They each have their own little quirks and foibles—such as Trish’s tendency to turn to plastic surgery and wigs to stave off old age—but these four friends support one another with all they have.

When Lou’s fears are revealed, the women all immediately support her. And when other things go wrong during the trip, they quickly rally together.

Lou also has something of an imaginary connection to Tom Brady himself. When she starts feeling down or upset, the quarterback’s image (in video and statuette forms) will look at her and give her words of encouragement. This fanciful connection mirrors the “you can do it, keep going” effect that watching Tom’s play on TV had given Lou when she was struggling with cancer. And later in the film she has a chance to express those feelings and thoughts to Tom Brady himself. Her words, in turn, have a bolstering effect on Tom when he’s in a tough spot in the Super Bowl game.

Betty and her husband rely on each other a great deal after 51 years of marriage. In his case, though, that reliance is almost unhealthy. And Betty has to gently push him toward more independent thought while at the same time expressing her sincere love for him.

Mara struggles with the recent death of her husband and the hole that’s left in her life. With support, she learns that life goes on, even after a devastating loss.

All of these relationships and individual struggles point to the fact that we must continue to grow wiser and stronger, no matter what our age.

Spiritual Elements

We hear about a spicy chicken-wing hot sauce called “Satan’s Tongue.”

Sexual Content

Trish can’t face the fact she is growing older. She notes that it has cost her a great deal to stay as young-looking as she does—including plastic surgery, suitcases full of wigs and clothes that hug her figure. All of that also plays into her implied sex life. Her friends mention that she is always dating someone new. At the Super Bowl, they find her in a supply closet kissing a guy. Trish does look younger than her friends. But she also laments the things that she’s sacrificed in her quest for perpetual “youthfulness,” including a family and grandkids.

Trish also writes slightly sexualized Gronk (as in Patriot tight end Rob Gronkowski) Fan Fiction, which her friends call “Gronkerotica.” Trish stumbles upon a display of her books at the Super Bowl and even reads parts of the book for a gathered crowd. A woman asks if she can preorder Trish’s next book, that will take place around Christmas. “The holidays are a very sexual time for me,” the woman notes.

The eighty-something friends are invited to a special pre-Super Bowl party at a mansion that’s filled with celebrities and wealthy patrons. Mara opines that there is likely an Eyes Wide Shut sex room somewhere on the premises.

During the party Betty accidentally hits a younger man in the face while she’s dancing. The two sit down and talk. And at one point, the much younger man moves to kiss Betty, who is simply trying to be nice. She balks at the advance.

We hear inappropriate giggles when some of the elderly friends comment about the much younger, and sweaty, football players.

Betty wears a fanny pack that she calls a “strap-on,” an innocent miscommunication and unintentionally suggestive double entendre that is used as a running joke for the rest of the film.

Violent Content

Parts of the Super Bowl game play out with thumping football hits and tackles, including one that drives Tom Brady face-first to the turf.

Crude or Profane Language

There’s one completely gratuitous f-word, several s-words, and several uses each of “d–n,” “h—” and “b—ch.” God’s name is misused about a dozen times.

Drug and Alcohol Content

The four friends drink glasses of wine and margaritas watching a football game in someone’s home. Radio announcers, talking about the upcoming Super Bowl in Houston, suggest that the city will soon run out of beer.

We see a lot of heavy drinking (wine, champagne and the like) by patrons at the pre-Super Bowl party. In fact, Betty and friends drink some wine there themselves and accidentally mix it with some “high potency” gummies they’re offered. This mixture leaves several of the women light-headed and staggering. And it gives Mara drugged visions that involve envisioning a room full of people as carbon copies of the same person (including her own reflection in a mirror).

Mara is also given some prescription pills by the manager of her retirement home. One of those pills is a strong sedative that almost instantly knocks her out cold.

Other Negative Elements

The women join in on some gambling during the Super Bowl festivities. There’s also a bit of lying in the mix—though the perpetrators believe they are doing it to help others.

80 for Brady is an on-again, off-again kinda pic.

Here’s what I mean:

In a way, it’s like a rental bouncy house with a faulty air blower. Sometimes it’s buoyant and fun, other times a little flat. Sometimes it’s warm and playful, other times a little uncomfortable.

On a positive note, I will say that Sally Field, in particular, is a delight. She hits her character beats perfectly with all the charm you’d expect. And on top of that, the film ends with a solid message about supporting and encouraging the ones you love while expecting them to continue to grow. That’s a terrific redemptive message.

That said, there’s a fair bit of profanity and innuendo here, too—elements that detract from a story that’s otherwise sweeter and cuter than I expected it to be. I won’t say you have to be 80 to have a good time and wisely shrug off this pic’s deficiencies … but it wouldn’t hurt.

After spending more than two decades touring, directing, writing and producing for Christian theater and radio (most recently for Adventures in Odyssey, which he still contributes to), Bob joined the Plugged In staff to help us focus more heavily on video games. He is also one of our primary movie reviewers.

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80 for Brady Reviews

• 52   Metascore
• 1 hr 38 mins
• Drama, Comedy
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After decades of dreaming, a quartet of older women, who are dedicated football fans, finally decides to make a pilgrimage to the Super Bowl for the once-in-a-lifetime chance to meet their favorite player, noteworthy NFL mainstay Tom Brady. Along the way, a series of hijinks ensue.

Reviewed By: Rovi

The main cast members for Director Kyle Marvin's comedy, 80 for Brady, are as mesmerizing on the screen here as they have been for decades. These four ladies include Lily Tomlin (9 to 5), Sally Field (Forrest Gump), Rita Moreno (West Side Story), and the iconic Jane Fonda (Klute). The film is produced by Tom Brady, who makes an appearance in it as well. The film also features Billy Porter, Guy Fieri, Jimmy O. Yang, Patton Oswald, Harry Hamlin, and Glynn Turman.When Lou (Tomlin) hears of a radio contest where listeners can win four tickets to the Super Bowl, it seems like fate. She and her besties, Trish (Fonda), Betty (Field), and Maura (Moreno) are determined to go. After all, their love of football, the New England Patriots, and their then quarterback Tom Brady have reinvigorated their love for life and kept them in close bonds. But between losing the tickets, trying to keep up with younger fans, and dealing with their own personal issues, will they be able to make it to the big game?A lot of the film's humor comes from society's expectations and stereotypes of how "little old ladies" are supposed to act. There are no knitters in this movie, folks. No cross-stitching or embroidery. And no one who wants to get home to their many cats. Instead, moviegoers are treated to a group of genuine senior citizen football fans, eager to go on an adventure, watch their favorite team play, and tighten their bonds at the same time.80 for Brady is deeply rooted in the feel-good comedy genre as there are moments for the entire audience to roar with laughter and also moments for the audience to sit still in contemplation and emotion. While not a tearjerker, it may be considered an eye-moistener, so be warned.Some of the backstories which are rooted in serious topics (loneliness, loss, the pitfalls of aging, and dependent relationships) are resolved quickly or barely glossed over. Instead of thoroughly dealing with these topics, Writers Emily Halpern and Sarah Haskins, and Director Kyle Marvin decided to spend more time on laughs. Considering the genre, that isn't much of a surprise. That being said, it is also a bit predictable. Most of the shenanigans can be seen in the trailer. There isn't as much of a subtle foreshadowing of conflict as there are blatant announcements of the main conflicts. Though, the resolutions feel natural and satisfying. The main themes of friendship and aging are well-exemplified through each of the scenarios on screen. It is beautiful to see such confident main characters. Not once does insecurity about age or gender come up in the film, which is a great example of how they live their lives for themselves.Some moviegoers will leave their seats feeling warm and fuzzy, and wanting to connect with their close friends even more, and the fact that this is based on a true story adds to that cozy feeling. Others, who prefer less predictability, may wish they waited to watch at home. The movie isn't life-changing, but it could be considered a fun romp for viewers looking for a sweet and comedic movie to watch with close friends. Football fanaticism not necessary.

80 For Brady Review

24 Mar 2023

80 For Brady

Space Jam meets The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel in 80 For Brady , a truly bizarre, frequently incompetent yet defiantly silly retiree comedy, which brings together Jane Fonda , Lily Tomlin , Rita Moreno and Sally Field as four devoted Tom Brady stans desperate to see their hunky hero play in a famously dramatic 2017 Super Bowl. These women are among the most decorated, celebrated screen legends in living memory (five Oscars and 12 nominations between them), so it feels almost perverse that they’ve finally all come together for this totally insane, American-to-its-core farce.

The tone of this thing is just violently ridiculous. In order to pad out the very basic plot — characters go watch some sports — it lurches from one wacky set piece to another: The gang try edibles! The gang pretend to be Lady Gaga ’s backing dancers! The gang win a hot wings contest with actual Guy Fieri! Most of the comedy here ranges from so-bad-it’s-good to just bad. Yet each leading lady gets their own ‘serious’ subplot, too: Rita Moreno is grieving her late husband, Lily Tomlin is recovering from cancer, Jane Fonda is perennially unlucky in love, Sally Field is trapped in a stale, academic marriage. There is also room for crushingly earnest, sincere moments of friendship between the women. It is all, admittedly, warmly felt, the chemistry between the actors never in doubt.

The direction is pedestrian. The script is barely coherent. Tom Brady cannot act.

Much of what transpires might get lost in translation on its journey to this side of the Atlantic: the arcane rules of American football remain a baffling mystery to most people outside The States, and Tom Brady (who cameos as himself here) is probably best known to Brits as ‘Gisele Bündchen’s ex’. In fact, the whole enterprise is a case study in pure Americana: there are cowboy boots; there are sequinned football jerseys; there are egregious product placements; there are Brady’s cheekbones, seemingly carved by Lady Liberty herself — and at the heart of it all, there is the Super Bowl, which seems to hold a mythological, almost healing property to those who worship at its altar. As an anthropological study of the American psyche, 80 For Brady is a fascinating and important document.

At a straightforward filmmaking level, however, it is not a good film. The direction is pedestrian. The script is barely coherent. Tom Brady cannot act. It cannot in all good conscience be recommended. But it has a good heart, and whichever side of 80 you’re on, for both the right reasons and many of the wrong ones, it will probably make you smile.

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Movie Review: 80 for Brady

What We Liked

What we didn't like.

Ostensibly inspired by the true story of four best friends who, in 2017, decided to embark on a trip to Super Bowl LI to see Tom Brady win another ring before retiring, 80 for Brady proves to be a remarkably charming and endearing piece thanks in large part to the ensemble of fine actresses assembled for this road trip.

Lily Tomlin stars as Lou, the centerpiece of a group of friends who have been together watching Tom Brady and the New England Patriots play (and win) football games since he entered his first game as they watched a game together to cheer Lou up after a particularly brutal round of chemotherapy. Being the superstitious lot they are, they have a few rituals that must be performed before the start of every important game that the Patriots play, and this all harkens back to that very first game (and appearance of Brady in such).

When it appears that Brady and the Patriots may be playing in their last Super Bowl as quarterback and team together, Lou suggests to her friends – Trish (Jane Fonda), Betty (Sally Field), and Maura (Rita Moreno) – that they attempt to win tickets to the Big Game offered by a pair of local radio hosts (Rob Corddry and Alex Moffat). This of course leads to a caper of sorts involving multiple parties assisting the women as they try to win the contest. As might be expected, fortune shines on them and they’re off to the Super Bowl. But, just as soon as the light begins to burn bright, it is snuffed out when a series of unfortunate events befall the four friends and their attendance at the game is in peril.

Working from a script penned by Emily Halpern and Sarah Haskins ( Booksmart [2019]), director Kyle Marvin makes his feature film debut in a safe and well-mannered fashion. There’s nothing incredibly innovative about 80 for Brady , but there is no denying that it is an entertaining romp that refreshingly gives a group of women the opportunity to helm something that would traditionally be considered male-dominated territory.

Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Sally Field, and Rita Moreno in “80 for Brady.”

As the four friends make their way through the various obstacles between them and the Super Bowl, they encounter an assortment of characters like an ex-player played by Harry Hamlin, a flamboyant and personable choreographer played by Glynn Turman, and a Guy Fieri-type personality played by, well, Guy Fieri. While all of these characters have their own individual moments to steal select scenes, it is the bond between the four main characters that makes the whole enterprise work.

Although 80 for Brady may have a forgone conclusion already in hand from the onset, it is still well worth it for the comradery and performances delivered by the film’s lead actresses. There is also perhaps something refreshing about a film that can make even the most ardent non-Brady fan soften a bit and think perhaps they have been wrong about the guy all along.

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Gena Rowlands, acting powerhouse and star of movies by her director-husband, John Cassavetes, dies

Gena Rowlands, acting powerhouse and star of John Cassavetes movies, has passed away aged 94. Her death was confirmed by her son, filmmaker Nick Cassavetes. (Aug. 15)

FILE - Actor Gena Rowlands poses for a portrait at the London West Hollywood hotel in West Hollywood, Calif., on Dec. 4, 2014. Rowlands, hailed as one of the greatest actors to ever practice the craft and a guiding light in independent cinema as a star in groundbreaking movies by her director husband, John Cassavetes, and later charmed audiences in her son’s tear-jerker “The Notebook,” has died at age 94. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File)

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FILE - U.S. director Nick Cassavetes, son of director John Cassavetes, center back, poses with his sister Xan Cassavetes, from left, his daughter Gena Cassavetes, his mother Gena Rowlands, and his sister Zoe, before the screening of his film “The Notebook” on Sept. 5, 2004, at the 30th American film Festival of Deauville, in Normandy. (AP Photo/Franck Prevel, File)

FILE - Actress Gena Rowlands attends the world premiere of ‘My Sister’s Keeper’ on Wednesday, June 24, 2009 in New York. Rowlands, hailed as one of the greatest actors to ever practice the craft and a guiding light in independent cinema as a star in groundbreaking movies by her director husband, John Cassavetes, and later charmed audiences in her son’s tear-jerker “The Notebook,” has died at age 94. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini, File)

FILE - Actress Gena Rowlands and actor Beau Bridges hold up their Emmys for Best Actress and Best Actor for Miniseries or Special during the 44th Annual Emmy Awards in Pasadena, Calif., Aug. 30, 1992. Rowlands received the Emmy for “Face Of A Stranger” and Bridges for “Without Warning: The James Brady Story.” (AP Photo/Douglas C. Pizac, File)

FILE - Gena Rowlands, left, and Robert Forrest attend the Governors Ball after the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 28, 2016, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Al Powers/Invision/AP, File)

FILE - U.S. actress Gena Rowlands waves to the crowd as she arrives at the Festival Palace in Cannes Tuesday May 23, 1995, to attend the screening of Terence Davies’ “The Neon Bible” for the 48th International Film Festival. Rowlands, hailed as one of the greatest actors to ever practice the craft and a guiding light in independent cinema as a star in groundbreaking movies by her director husband, John Cassavetes, and later charmed audiences in her son’s tear-jerker “The Notebook,” has died at age 94. (AP Photo/Laurent Rebours, File)

FILE - Actor Gena Rowlands poses for a photo in Los Angeles on Sept. 21, 1957. Rowlands, hailed as one of the greatest actors to ever practice the craft and a guiding light in independent cinema as a star in groundbreaking movies by her director husband, John Cassavetes, and later charmed audiences in her son’s tear-jerker “The Notebook,” has died at age 94. (AP Photo/Dick Strobel, File)

Gena Rowlands, hailed as one of the greatest actors to ever practice the craft and a guiding light in independent cinema as a star in groundbreaking movies by her director husband, John Cassavetes, and who later charmed audiences in her son’s tear-jerker “The Notebook,” has died. She was 94.

Rowlands’ death was confirmed Wednesday by representatives for her son, filmmaker Nick Cassavetes. He revealed earlier this year that his mother had Alzheimer’s disease . TMZ reported that Rowlands died Wednesday at her home in Indian Wells, California.

Operating outside the studio system, the husband-and-wife team of John Cassavetes and Rowlands created indelible portraits of working-class strivers and small-timers in such films as “A Woman Under the Influence,” “Gloria” and “Faces.”

Rowlands made 10 films across four decades with Cassavetes, including “Minnie and Moskowitz” in 1971, “Opening Night” in 1977 and “Love Streams” in 1984.

She earned two Oscar nods for two of them: 1974’s “A Woman Under the Influence,” in which she played a wife and mother cracking under the burden of domestic harmony, and “Gloria” in 1980, about a woman who helps a young boy escape the mob.

“He had a particular sympathetic interest in women and their problems in society, how they were treated and how they solved and overcame what they needed to, so all his movies have some interesting women, and you don’t need many,” she told the AP in 2015.

In addition to the Oscar nominations, Rowlands earned three Primetime Emmy Awards, one Daytime Emmy and two Golden Globes. She was awarded an honorary Academy Award in 2015 in recognition of her work and legacy in Hollywood. “You know what’s wonderful about being an actress? You don’t just live one life,” she said at the podium. “You live many lives.”

A new generation was introduced to Rowlands in her son’s blockbuster “The Notebook,” in which she played a woman whose memory is ravaged, looking back on a romance for the ages. Her younger self was portrayed by Rachel McAdams. (She also appeared in Nick Cassavetes’ “Unhook the Stars” in 1996.)

In her later years, Rowlands made several appearances in films and TV, including in “The Skeleton Key” and the detective series “Monk.” Her last appearance in a movie was in 2014, playing a retiree who befriends her gay dance instructor in “Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks.”

One of her career triumphs was 1974’s “A Woman Under the Influence,” playing a lower middle-class housewife who, the actor said, “was totally vulnerable and giving; she had no sense of her own worth.” In “Gloria” (1980) she portrayed a faded showgirl menaced by her ex-boyfriend, a mobster boss. She was Oscar nominated as best actress for both performances.

She and Cassavetes met at the American School of Dramatic Arts when both their careers were beginning. They married four months later. In 1959 Cassavetes used his earnings from the TV series “Johnny Staccato” to finance his first film, “Shadows.” Partly improvised, shot with natural light on New York locations with a $40,000 budget, it was applauded by critics for its stark realism.

Gena (pronounced Jenna) Rowlands became a seasoned actor through live television drama and tours in “The Seven Year Itch” and “Time for Ginger” as well as off-Broadway.

Her big break came when Josh Logan cast her opposite Edward G. Robinson in Paddy Chayefsky’s play “Middle of the Night.” Her role as a young woman in love with her much older boss brought reviews hailing her as a new star.

Nick Cassavetes, son of director John Cassavetes, center back, poses with his sister Xan Cassavetes, from left, his daughter Gena Cassavetes, his mother Gena Rowlands, and his sister Zoe, before the screening of his film “The Notebook” in 2004. (AP Photo/Franck Prevel)

MGM offered her a contract for two pictures a year. Her first film, a comedy directed by and costarring Jose Ferrer, “The High Cost of Loving,” brought Rowlands comparisons to one of the great 1930s stars, Carole Lombard.

But she asked to be released from her contract because she was expecting a baby. Often during her career she would absent herself from the screen for long stretches to attend to family matters.

In addition to Nick, she and Cassavetes had two daughters, Alexandra and Zoe, who also pursued acting careers.

John Cassavetes died of cirrhosis of the liver in 1989, and Rowlands returned to acting to assuage her grief. Between assignments she sometimes attended film festivals and societies for Cassavetes screenings.

“I want everyone to see his films,” she said at the San Sebastian Festival in 1992. “John was one of a kind, the most totally fearless person I’ve ever known. He had a very specific view of life and the individuality of people.”

Virginia Cathryn Rowlands was born in 1930 (some sources give a later date) in Cambria, Wisconsin, where her Welsh ancestors had settled in the early 19th century. Her father was a banker and state senator. She was a withdrawn child who loved books and make-believe. Her mother encouraged the girl’s ambition to become an actor.

Rowlands quit the University of Wisconsin in her junior year to pursue an acting career in New York. Like other actors of her generation, she gained invaluable experience in the thriving field of television drama in the 1950s, appearing on all the major series.

After leaving her MGM contract, she was able to choose her film roles. When nothing attracted her, she appeared in TV series such as “Alfred Hitchcock Presents,” “Bonanza,” “Dr. Kildare” and “The Virginian.” One of her career delights was co-starring with her icon Bette Davis on the TV movie “Strangers” in 1979.

Rowlands and actor Beau Bridges hold up their Emmys for best actress and actor for a miniseries or special in 1992. (AP Photo/Douglas C. Pizac)

Her other movies included “Lonely Are the Brave” with Kirk Douglas, “The Spiral Road” (Rock Hudson), “A Child Is Waiting” (with Burt Lancaster and Judy Garland, directed by Cassavetes), “Two Minute Warning” (Charlton Heston), “Tempest” (co-starring with Cassavetes and Molly Ringwald, in her screen debut) and the mother who wants to do right by her children in Paul Schrader’s 1987 study of a blue-collar family, “Light of Day.”

In middle age and beyond, Rowlands continued playing demanding roles. In Woody Allen’s austere drama “Another Woman” she was cast as a writer whose life has been shielded from emotion until dire incidents force her to deal with her feelings. In the groundbreaking TV movie “An Early Frost,” she appeared as a mother confronting her son’s AIDS.

Rowlands commented in 1992 that her roles remained in her memory.

“Sometimes, those white nights when I have no sleep and a lot of time to think about everything, I’ll examine different possibilities of different characters and what they might be doing now,” she said.

This story has been updated to correct the spelling of the television series “Johnny Staccato” and the release year for “Shadows.”

Film Writer Jake Coyle in New York contributed to this report. The late Associated Press writer Bob Thomas contributed biographical material to this report.

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