80 for Brady

From the trailers, I was expecting this to be a very obnoxious, clunky movie. I'm happily surprised to have been mostly wrong about that.

Yes, it is often melodramatic. Yes, it has a plot as thin as rice paper. Yes, it's directed and edited in a way that looks like a cheap made-for-tv movie.

But I didn't care. Because what handily saves this movie is the chemistry between its four aged-yet-still-talented actresses. They embody their characters distinctly and charmingly, and from the first few scenes I was thoroughly convinced of the authenticity of their friendship.

Their dynamic carries this lighthearted experience and makes it an engaging, and often legitimately hilarious, one.

I was in one of those moods where I wanted to watch something, but I really didn't want to put must effort into what I was watching. I had seen 80 for Brady advertised, I love Sally Field, so I thought I would give it a go. I was not disappointed.

It is about 4 elderly women obsessed with American Football and Brady, who then decide to go to the Super Bowl. (Based loosely on a true story) I am not a huge fan of Jane Fonda) she is tolerable in this story, she always plays the same character in these films.

It was a fun, easy way to spend 90 minutes. There was a few laughs a long the way, it was enjoyable.

When you put this movie on you can't expect to be getting some Tarentino style cinematic experience. It's not that and nor does it try to be. The only things that you can really grade it on are whether the jokes are decent and not overly obnoxious and whether there is somewhat of a story to follow.

In these two areas I would say it achieves its goal. It takes advantage of a good cast for these roles. They all feed off of the other quite well. As silly as it may be you start to root for the women to achieve their goal. Sure they stereotype the older female football fan a bit, but it's all in good fun. Not a perfect comparison but has a bit of The Hangover but with older people feel to it. Compared to most comedy films put out these days it at least made me laugh as I was rooting on the women. The ending isn't the greatest, but nor did it need to overextend its stay.

Overall, far more entertaining than I expected. Certainly a win for a free movie on the local public transit train.

And they are as follows: Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Rita Moreno and Sally Field. (Okay, if you like football, there will be a fifth: Tom Brady). This movie has the barest of plots (four ladies realize their dream to see the SuperBowl and their favorite player, Tom Brady). Some of the events that play out make no sense. (For example, when they dance their way into the SuperBowl. I'll be the first to say they dance better than I do but the crowd acts like they've just seen Cirque de Soleil not four old broads doing the frug.). But these four pros take thinly written characters and make them stand out. Sally Field is probably the funniest as the retired math professor who loves spouting statistics. Jane Fonda, who looks incredible, is sympathetic as the aging sexpot who really just wants to have a comfortable romance. Rita Moreno is great as a grieving widow with a penchant for gambling. And Lily Tomlin, as the de facto leader of the quartet, leaves the snark behind to play an ordinary woman with health issues that just wants to have one last fun trip with her friends. Check your brain at the door, accept that this is silly sentimental nonsense half the time and remember that this could be the last time we see any one of these great actresses.

I admit, when this movie was being advertised just about two years ago I told myself I had zero interest in seeing it. And I made no effort to see it. Until today when my wife and I were looking for something to stream.

Now I can confidently say "This movie is a lot better than I thought it would be" and that is always a welcome surprise. A bonus is that it was inspired by a true story of four elderly Tom Brady fans going to Superbowl 51 in Houston (where we happen to live for the past 38 years).

The gist of the story is, these four friends call themselves "80 For Brady" because most of them are over 80 and all of them are big Brady fans and Patriots fans. They even have special jerseys they wear when watching games on TV, all with number 12 on them.

It is 2017 and the Superbowl 51 in Houston is coming up. Two local radio jockeys have a contest, the best story from the fans will win four tickets to the game. A few days later one of the ladies produces four tickets and they are off.

Part of the humor here is that not everything goes smoothly. But the four veteran actresses are in fine form and a fantasy conclusion to the game, which required the Patriots to come back from a big deficit, is entertaining. Actual NFL footage from that game is used, and several Patriots players, including Brady and Gronk, are characters in the locker-room after the game. In fact Brady was the producer for the movie.

Good entertainment, inspired by real people and real events, what's not to like?