Sports movies have proven very flexible matched with different genres, as biopics, comedies, and even heartwarming dramas all have used love of the game as a platform. Rousing music, inspired pratfalls, and sweeping shots of various fields of play have contributed to the language that movies use to make the world fall in love with athletes and fans alike. Director Kyle Marvin’s 80 For Brady understands that concept, but in only the most basic form possible, which results in a movie that loses the game before it even begins.
80 For Brady (Image credit: Paramount) Release Date: February 3, 2023
Directed By: Kyle Marvin
Written By: Sarah Haskins & Emily Halpern
Starring: Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Sally Field, and Rita Moreno
Loosely inspired by the real-life story of a Tom Brady fan club made of several older women, 80 For Brady draws together Lou (Lily Tomlin), Trish (Jane Fonda), Maura (Rita Moreno), and Betty (Sally Field), a group much like their counterparts from reality. As they get hyped for Super Bowl LI – a championship game between Brady’s New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons – Lou makes the suggestion that the friends make the journey to Houston, Texas to see the player they love so much in action. This calls for a road trip, complete with an assortment of big name appearances, learning experiences, and wacky hijinks, as one would expect.
But even in trying to execute a basic caper of this sort, a combination of playing things too safe and faulty character development grinds this would-be saga to a halt. Save for some moments of levity that somehow rise above the complaisant noise that is the majority of this film, this movie shouldn’t have even qualified for training camp.
80 For Brady assembles a killer cast, but the movie doesn’t give them enough of a story to hang on to.
It’s a major disappointment that 80 For Brady, with its aforementioned roster of stars, is such a scattershot story that can’t build anything substantial. The talents of the cast are not in question, as the sports comedy has one of the best lineups you could hope for on a comedic road trip; it’s just so unfortunate that there doesn’t seem to be any interest in using anyone involved to their full potential.
What’s more, 80 For Brady has a hell of a supporting bench that feel wasted in the process of including threads that are introduced with minimal effort and wrapped up. Notable actors like Bob Balaban, Sara Gilbert, Harry Hamlin, and Glynn Turman are all present for a handful of scenes that seem like first draft attempts to give each of the ladies an obstacle to overcome during their journey.
Both the setup and resolution of each of these subplots is incredibly thin, even for a movie that’s barely over an hour-and-a-half – which is especially disappointing, as 80 For Brady is focused on a Super Bowl with a known outcome.
You need other stories like Sally Field learning to be more assertive with her milquetoast husband (Balaban) to keep the energy going, otherwise we pretty much know where this is all headed from frame one. Dispatching of those stories with simple three to five scene arcs doesn’t get that job done, and the movie instead treats the individual growth of the lead characters as nothing more than perfunctory tasks.
A short movie turns into a long slog without an interesting narrative, and very few worthy gags.
The lack of fuller character development doesn’t totally hamper the sort of movie that 80 For Brady is trying to be, as this is a cast of legendary pros that still give it their all. Those talents are simultaneously a blessing and a curse, as Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Sally Field, and Rita Moreno absolutely make the finished product more enjoyable than it could have been. At the same time, these women deserved material that really let them and their co-stars shine.
One of the most frustrating paradoxes at the movies is when a project can feel both too short and yet interminably long. 80 For Brady deserves some credit for achieving this feat in its 98 minutes of screen time, and in a movie that uses a high-adrenaline game of football and an extended drug trip as plot points.
Sally Field and Rita Moreno in particular seem to have the most fun with what they’re assigned to do in this story. Specifically, they make the middle act into the most enjoyable, as they experiment with negging and indulging in poker. Moreno’s Maura even has a moment where she hallucinates that everyone in the room looks like Guy Fieri, herself included.
There are sparks of the wild energy you’d expect from a script penned by Sarah Haskins and Emily Halpern, who also happen to be two of the writers behind the hysterical Booksmart. Plus, a road trip comedy that has quite a few notable celebrity cameos and castings, on top of several prominent football players as themselves, sounds, on paper, like it could have been a lot of fun. There are smiles and chuckles to be had, but they’re so few and far between that it makes the big picture drag overall.
I really am puzzled how a formula like 80 For Brady could stumble so hard, never coming close to the end zone when trying to entertain. Looking back at all of the components involved, on top of roster of Fonda, Tomlin, Field, and Moreno, I’m not so sure where this project went wrong. What I can say is that even Tom Brady fans might find themselves scratching their heads as to why this movie was even made.
I get that the whole pitch that sold the movie was a real life group of older women who loved Tom Brady, but it feels obvious they never got into any of these shenanigans. I also understand that another purpose that 80 For Brady is also out to fulfill is to get older moviegoers back to cinemas – and that is also valid, because there have been absolutely hysterical flicks in the past made for that demographic.
With both of those concepts firmly in mind, I still believe that there’s a better, bolder version of this comedy that we could have enjoyed. We’ve seen as much through Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda’s run on Netflix’s Grace and Franky, which only makes me wonder if there’s a longer, raunchier edit that’s sitting on a shelf somewhere that was cut down.
That’s the most plausible theory I can come up with for the version of 80 For Brady that we got, other than the embellishments made to this real life fandom just weren’t strong enough as written. The only play that this movie knows how to run is playing it safe, and that deserves quite the penalty when working with such potential.
80 For Brady Review: A Deflated Sports Comedy That Fumbles Its Cast’s Charms
1 COMMENT
LEAVE A REPLY
- Advertisment - 
Recent Comments
on CBS Sports announces Matt Ryan will join NFL studio show. Longtime analysts Simms and Esiason depart
on Can Tom Cruise Save The Box Office Again With Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning? An Investigation
on Cam Newton’s Violent Public Incident Draws Hilarious Reaction From 3x All-Star: “Where Do I Sign Up
on “Bro Is Jogging”: Resurfaced Video of Usain Bolt’s 9.84 Seconds Run, Leaves Sports World in Denial
on Braun Strowman Reportedly Set for WWE Return Abroad on Promotional Tour After 6 Months Out Injured
on Brad Keselowski Feels NASCAR Could Welcome New Manufacturer Soon Amid Martin Truex Jr’s Engine Tests
on Boise State vs. Nevada live stream, odds, channel, prediction, how to watch on CBS Sports Network
on Boise State vs. Air Force live stream, odds, channel, prediction, how to watch on CBS Sports Network
on Big Tech companies will cover travel expenses for employees’ medical procedures, including abortion
on Biden: ‘At this point I’m not’ planning to visit East Palestine, Ohio, after toxic train derailment
on Best places to travel in 2023: National Geographic unveils list of top 25 destinations for next year
on Ask Amy: Should I keep my RSVP simple and just gracefully decline or say I can’t afford the trip?
on As more abortion bans occur, many patients must travel hundreds of miles for care – or be stranded
on Air Force vs. Utah State live stream, how to watch online, CBS Sports Network channel finder, odds
on After UFC Fallout, Conor McGregor Offers a Valuable Piece of Advice to Free Agent Francis Ngannou
on A weaker dollar, skyrocketing prices and ‘record’ visitor numbers: Good luck in Europe this summer
on A missile fired by Houthis strikes a US-owned vessel off Yemen in the Gulf of Aden, raising tensions
on A heavy wave of Russian missile attacks pounds areas across Ukraine, killing at least 4 civilians
on 2023 NFL All-Rookie Team: CBS Sports draft expert, former GM unveil league’s best first-year players
on $12M Worth Dawn Staley Sports Pricey Jordans While Witnessing Joel Embiid’s Suffering Against Knicks
on Dozens of boats cruise the Seine in a rehearsal for the Paris Olympics’ opening ceremony on July 26
on 2023 NFL All-Rookie Team: CBS Sports draft expert, former GM unveil league’s best first-year players
on If you’re a frequent traveler, these wrap tops from Aday will revolutionize your on-the-go wardrobe
on 2024 Super Bowl: CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports HQ to combine for 115 hours of weeklong coverage
on Sports World Hails ‘Superwoman’ Lindsey Vonn for Her Grand Comeback Despite Career-Changing Injury
on How Does Jack Nicklaus Travel? Exploring the Private Jets Owned by the ‘Golden Bear’ Over the Years
on College basketball rankings: Kansas helps Big 12 lead conference race for most Top 100 And 1 players
on A weaker dollar, skyrocketing prices and ‘record’ visitor numbers: Good luck in Europe this summer
on Lamar Jackson: NFC side tipped to be ‘overwhelming’ Super Bowl favourites if they signed Ravens QB
on ICC T20 World Cup 2022: “Love Cricket At All Levels, I’ll Watch Any Cricket, And Love Going There”
on 2023 NFL All-Rookie Team: CBS Sports draft expert, former GM unveil league’s best first-year players
on Joe Manchin and Tommy Tuberville introduce bill on name, image and likeness rules for college sports
on San Mateo County Community College District sues five companies over role in ‘pay to play’ scandal
on If you’re a frequent traveler, these wrap tops from Aday will revolutionize your on-the-go wardrobe
on “Completely Knocked Me Out”: Rob Lowe Recalls Boxing Match With Tom Cruise On 1983 Brat Pack Classic
on Biden to tout bill’s prescription drug prices, energy provisions in pitch to Americans, aide says
on Following Exchange With Caitlin Clark At News Conference, Columnist Won’t Cover Indiana Fever Games
on Inside Out Mini Jawbreaker Puzzle Game from Disney Cruise Line Now Available at Walt Disney World
on Katherine Paprocka allegedly embezzled nearly $600k from school for family vacations, IVF treatment
on Johnny Knoxville Talks Jackass Stunts And How They Compare To Tom Cruise’s Mission: Impossible Work
on Napoli owner admits he ‘knew’ Victor Osimhen would end up at ‘Real Madrid, PSG or one English club’
on Camilla Parker Bowles Revealed the ‘Nicest Thing’ She and Prince Charles Do When They Travel Is Free
on Russian cruise and ballistic missiles kill 4 in Ukraine and Ukrainian rockets kill 2 in Russian city
on Can Tom Cruise Save The Box Office Again With Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning? An Investigation
on Boise State vs. Air Force live stream, odds, channel, prediction, how to watch on CBS Sports Network
on CONCEPT ART: New Details Revealed for Disney Cruise Line Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point Destination
on College basketball rankings: Kansas helps Big 12 lead conference race for most Top 100 And 1 players
on Inside Floyd Mayweather’s Lavish Lifestyle: A Look at His Stunning Car Collection and Private Jet
on Cruise guest gets stuck on ‘claustrophobic’ water slide suspended over ocean: ‘That is super scary’
on David and Victoria Beckham so ‘Charmed’ by Tom Cruise They Have His Photos on Display at Their Home
on Boston College vs. Army live stream, how to watch online, CBS Sports Network channel finder, odds
on Big Tech companies will cover travel expenses for employees’ medical procedures, including abortion
on Russian cruise and ballistic missiles kill 4 in Ukraine and Ukrainian rockets kill 2 in Russian city
on A weaker dollar, skyrocketing prices and ‘record’ visitor numbers: Good luck in Europe this summer
on GameFly Sale Offering Nintendo Switch Sports at a Mind-Blowing Price, Don’t Miss the Opportunity!
on Ford Blue Cruise: US regulators investigate fatal crashes involving hands-free driving technology
on San Mateo County Community College District sues five companies over role in ‘pay to play’ scandal
on 2024 Super Bowl: CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports HQ to combine for 115 hours of weeklong coverage
on Despite strong Lunar New Year holiday data, consumer spending in China isn’t roaring back just yet
on 2023 NFL All-Rookie Team: CBS Sports draft expert, former GM unveil league’s best first-year players
on Devout athletes find strength in their faith. But practicing it and elite sports can pose hurdles
on The Rev. Al Sharpton to lead protest after Florida governor’s ban of African American studies course
on After UFC Fallout, Conor McGregor Offers a Valuable Piece of Advice to Free Agent Francis Ngannou
on CONCEPT ART: New Details Revealed for Disney Cruise Line Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point Destination
on Saipan, placid island setting for Assange’s last battle, is briefly mobbed – and bemused by the fuss
on CONCEPT ART: New Details Revealed for Disney Cruise Line Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point Destination
on David and Victoria Beckham so ‘Charmed’ by Tom Cruise They Have His Photos on Display at Their Home
on Iowa State starting RB Jirehl Brock among latest college football players charged in gambling probe
on Biden to tout bill’s prescription drug prices, energy provisions in pitch to Americans, aide says
on Iowa State starting RB Jirehl Brock among latest college football players charged in gambling probe
on The Rev. Al Sharpton to lead protest after Florida governor’s ban of African American studies course
on Sports World Hails ‘Superwoman’ Lindsey Vonn for Her Grand Comeback Despite Career-Changing Injury
on San Mateo County Community College District sues five companies over role in ‘pay to play’ scandal
on Saipan, placid island setting for Assange’s last battle, is briefly mobbed – and bemused by the fuss
on ‘Pokémon Scarlet’ and ‘Violet’ Fan Theories Suggest Legendary Time Travel, Alternate Dimension Plot
on Joe Manchin and Tommy Tuberville introduce bill on name, image and likeness rules for college sports
on Inside the Michael Jordan ‘Air’ movie, plus why NFL, others are buying into the sports film industry
on If you’re a frequent traveler, these wrap tops from Aday will revolutionize your on-the-go wardrobe
on How Does Jack Nicklaus Travel? Exploring the Private Jets Owned by the ‘Golden Bear’ Over the Years
on Hollywood Reporter: Tom Cruise negotiated with movie studios over AI before the actors strike began
on Ford Blue Cruise: US regulators investigate fatal crashes involving hands-free driving technology
on Dozens of boats cruise the Seine in a rehearsal for the Paris Olympics’ opening ceremony on July 26
on Devout athletes find strength in their faith. But practicing it and elite sports can pose hurdles
on Despite strong Lunar New Year holiday data, consumer spending in China isn’t roaring back just yet
on David and Victoria Beckham so ‘Charmed’ by Tom Cruise They Have His Photos on Display at Their Home
on CONCEPT ART: New Details Revealed for Disney Cruise Line Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point Destination
on CBS Sports announces Matt Ryan will join NFL studio show. Longtime analysts Simms and Esiason depart
on Boston College vs. Army live stream, how to watch online, CBS Sports Network channel finder, odds
on Boise State vs. Air Force live stream, odds, channel, prediction, how to watch on CBS Sports Network
on Biden to tout bill’s prescription drug prices, energy provisions in pitch to Americans, aide says
on After UFC Fallout, Conor McGregor Offers a Valuable Piece of Advice to Free Agent Francis Ngannou
on 2024 Super Bowl: CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports HQ to combine for 115 hours of weeklong coverage
on ‘Best Intention’: Chris Kirk Has Absolute Trust in Jay Monahan and PGA Tour’s Widely Debated Model
on 2023 NFL All-Rookie Team: CBS Sports draft expert, former GM unveil league’s best first-year players
on “Completely Knocked Me Out”: Rob Lowe Recalls Boxing Match With Tom Cruise On 1983 Brat Pack Classic
on CONCEPT ART: New Details Revealed for Disney Cruise Line Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point Destination
on “Completely Knocked Me Out”: Rob Lowe Recalls Boxing Match With Tom Cruise On 1983 Brat Pack Classic
on CBS Sports announces Matt Ryan will join NFL studio show. Longtime analysts Simms and Esiason depart
on Carlos Sainz’s Soccer Fanboy Emerges as Spaniard Shares Defining Moment With This Real Madrid Legend
on Biden: ‘At this point I’m not’ planning to visit East Palestine, Ohio, after toxic train derailment
on ‘Best Intention’: Chris Kirk Has Absolute Trust in Jay Monahan and PGA Tour’s Widely Debated Model
on Ahead of big sports weekend, dispute with Disney leaves millions of cable subscribers in the dark
on A heavy wave of Russian missile attacks pounds areas across Ukraine, killing at least 4 civilians
on 2024 Super Bowl: CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports HQ to combine for 115 hours of weeklong coverage
on 2023 NFL All-Rookie Team: CBS Sports draft expert, former GM unveil league’s best first-year players
on Army vs. Coastal Carolina live stream, how to watch online, CBS Sports Network channel finder, odds
on AL Rookie of the Year Julio Rodriguez Spreads Joy and Sportsmanship to the Youth of Loma de Cabrera
on After UFC Fallout, Conor McGregor Offers a Valuable Piece of Advice to Free Agent Francis Ngannou
on Dubai International Airport sees 41.6 million passengers in first half of year, more than in 2019
on Devout athletes find strength in their faith. But practicing it and elite sports can pose hurdles
on Despite strong Lunar New Year holiday data, consumer spending in China isn’t roaring back just yet
on Dave Portnoy: Taylor Swift’s security should ‘drag Kim Kardashian to jail’ if she attends Eras Tour
on CONCEPT ART: New Details Revealed for Disney Cruise Line Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point Destination
on “Completely Knocked Me Out”: Rob Lowe Recalls Boxing Match With Tom Cruise On 1983 Brat Pack Classic
on CBS Sports, Serie A announce new TV rights deal; Paramount+ to air over 400 Italian soccer matches
on Cam Newton’s Violent Public Incident Draws Hilarious Reaction From 3x All-Star: “Where Do I Sign Up
on Boston College vs. Army live stream, how to watch online, CBS Sports Network channel finder, odds
on Angel Reese Launches Foundation Dedicated To Empowering Women Through Sports & Financial Literacy
on A weaker dollar, skyrocketing prices and ‘record’ visitor numbers: Good luck in Europe this summer
vds satin al