Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Sally Field, and Rita Moreno are four show business legends. For over half a century, they’ve each starred in every medium of entertainment, and have done it with excellence. As a group, they possess five Oscars, 12 Golden Globes, 11 Emmys, and two Tony Awards. And refreshingly, despite the longevity of their careers, there are no signs of them slowing down. Their newest project is a treat, as they starred in the sports comedy 80 for Brady (2023)—which includes Tom Brady—released on February 3rd, 2023. Here’s my review:
Lou (Lily Tomlin), Trish (Jane Fonda), Betty (Sally Field), and Maura (Rita Moreno) have a yearly tradition of always watching the Super Bowl together. One day, Lou suggests that they all go to the Super Bowl and to meet Tom Brady. Though the others are skeptical at first, they agree to go and hilarity ensues on the trip, forging an even stronger bond for the group.
Everyone loves a friendship story, but this movie is special because it’s a friendship story about, shall we say “more experienced” people. It’s based on a real-life story on five women from Foxborough, Massachusetts, the home of the New England Patriots: Betty Pensavalle, Elaine St. Martin, Anita Riccio, Pat Marx, and Claire Boardman had the tradition of gathering to watch the Patriots play football—especially Tom Brady. The group was started by Pensavalle, and her grandson Max, who works in Hollywood, is the one who pitched the idea of the film.
Similar to Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau’s Grumpy Old Men (1993) and its sequel Grumpier Old Men (1995), this movie gives us a peek into friendships as we age. It’s sort of this generation’s “Golden Girls.” With additions of Field and Moreno, it continues the sisterly/BFF’s chemistry Tomlin and Fonda originally formed on the movie 9 to 5 (1980) and continued in Netflix’s Grace and Frankie (2015-2022).
In addition to Tomlin, Fonda, Field, Moreno, and Brady, the film features cameos by Rob Gronkowski, Danny Amendola, and Julian Edelman as well as Sara Gilbert, Bob Balaban, Billy Porter, Harry Hamlin and Patton Oswalt in supporting roles. The film was directed by Kyle Marvin, making his film directorial debut and was co-written by Sarah Haskins and Emily Halpern who previously co-wrote Booksmart (2019). The film’s Executive Producers consisted of Marvin, Jeffrey Stott, and Michael Angelo Covino and it’s Co-lead producers were Brady and Donna Gigliotti (who won the Best Picture Oscar for Producing Shakespeare in Love (1998)).
Just when you think it’s all about making you laugh, it tugs at the heartstrings. It’s very well-acted and very well-written, and in addition to being about the blessing if friendship, it inspires one to never let age get in the way of doing what you love, especially if it means having an adventure with your friends.
All in all, “80 for Brady,” is an exceptional movie. No matter how old you are, it has a touching friendship story that everyone can appreciate. Especially, if you’re a fan of Hollywood, this movie will deepen your admiration for four of its biggest stars.
