“80 For Brady,” Tom Brady’s first step into Hollywood, is a clumsier comedy than he ever was on the football field.
True, the film’s casting is a strength, as Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Sally Field, and Rita Moreno bring their adored personalities to the screen. Putting these legends in a “Hangover”-style fiction about a girls weekend does not, however, necessitate such a cheesy execution.
Running time: 98 minutes. Rating: PG-13 (brief strong language, some drug content and some suggestive references.) In cinemas.
The origin of the term “cutting room floor” is a scene in which Guy Fieri holds a spicy BBQ hot wing eating contest that he describes as “the pain train to Flavortown!”
Kyle Marvin’s “Brady” attempts to strike a balance between persistent silliness and obnoxious positivity. After the channel became stuck on football during a visit with their feisty friend Lou (Tomlin), who was undergoing chemotherapy, the four ladies developed a practice of watching football every Sunday. They ultimately grew infatuated with Brady and the game itself.
Three are octogenarians and one, Betty (Field), is 75 years old.
Trish (Fonda) is the author of popular Rob Gronkowski erotica such as “Between Gronk and a Hard Place,” while Maura (Moreno) is a widow and a tough poker player.
Because she sees herself in the boundary-breaking Brady, Lou devises a plan for the ladies to attend Super Bowl LI, Patriots vs. Atlanta Falcons, in 2017.
She shouts, “If Tom Brady can make it to the Super Bowl, so can we!” He is 80 in human years.
Therefore, they enter a local Boston radio contest to win tickets by telling their odd fan tale, and make their way to Houston, Texas for the game.
Although “Brady” is advertised as “inspired by a true story,” the “80 For Brady” group shown in the film did not truly exist. They did not pretend to be half-time show dancers by making friends with Lady Gaga’s choreographer, Gugu (Billy Porter), ugh. None of them stumbled into a celebrity poker event in a generic suburban estate by chance. They never met Danny Amendola, Gronk, or Tom Brady in the locker room, despite the fact that the real Tom is benefitting from a film based on their resemblance.
They did not actually attend the Super Bowl.
This significant divergence from reality may explain why most of the film’s events are implausible and hence difficult to laugh at or be moved by. The funniest moment is when Moreno consumes a cannabis gummy she mistook for a healthy treat and becomes high for a scene. But, c’mon, we’ve seen this drug-induced wide-eyed, hazy vision act in many films.
“80 For Brady” would be nearly meaningless if not for the extraordinary abilities and chemistry of its ensemble.
By the end, however, I felt deflated, like the footballs in an infamous Brady controversy.
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