80 For Brady (2023)
I did some minor research and yes, three out of the four actresses of 80 for Brady are indeed in their 80s, with Rita Moreno in her 90s, so there is some truth in advertising still. Speaking of that, this geriatric comedy is about everything you would expect from its very basic premise. Inspired by a true story, four lifelong friends (Moreno, Jane Fonda, Sally Field, Lily Tomlin) are diehard New England Patriots fans and more so fans of the team’s famous quarterback, Mr. Tom Brady (playing himself). They’re determined to make one last big trip to support their team at the 2017 Super Bowl, as Tomlin is afraid she doesn’t have much time left. What follows is standard road trip hi-jinks and celebrity cameos the likes of which from Billy Porter and Guy Fieri and Patton Oswalt. Most of the jokes are mild and easily telegraphed, and the formula hews very close to other studio entries in the “old people still got it” ensemble comedy subgenre (Last Vegas, Book Club, The Bucket List, Going in Style, Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Calendar Girls, etc.). The target audience is looking for something nice and reassuring with familiar faces. To that end, 80 for Brady mostly succeeds, but for anyone else outside it’s older demographic, it will be a middling and hokey comedy. I laughed out loud at the assertion that the Pats comeback from a 28-3 deficit versus the Atlanta Falcons was the result of one very determined, yet also obsessive to the point of hallucinating, elderly fan giving Brady a special pep talk that motivated him to try harder at winning. The movie isn’t meant to elicit big laughs, more pleasant smiles, and to that end it’s agreeably inoffensive right down to its predictability and easy conclusions. Entirely skippable if you’re under the age of 50.
Nate’s Grade: C
Posted on March 12, 2023, in 2023 Movies and tagged comedy, drama, jane fonda, rita moreno, sally field, sports. Bookmark the permalink. Leave a comment.
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