‘80 for Brady’ Thrives on the Chemistry of its Leading Ladies

Table of Contents

Four of the most prominent women to ever be on screen come together for a heartwarming story about the importance of friendship. ‘80 for Brady’ is inspired by a true story of a group of women over the age of eighty from Massachusetts that were the “80 for Brady Club.” Known for their love of Tom Brady, these women would get together each Sunday to watch the New England Patriots play.

Scripted by the writers of ‘Booksmart,’ Emily Halpern and Sarah Haskins, with an independent producer of ‘The Climb,’ Kyle Marvin making his directorial debut creates an adequate piece that does not feel the need to exceed what it is. The script, almost a long sitcom, plays out the situational humor with the day-to-day reality of their age being the stimulant. The best moments directed by Marvin are when the four actresses are able to inhabit the space available to them. The chemistry between Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Sally Field, and Rita Moreno makes for a delightful watch as they each deal with their life woes.

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’80 for Brady’ – The Powerful Quartet

The leading ladies each have a distinguished career in their own right; actively making movies, appearing in television shows, or coming out with albums for the last sixty years. These women have done it all in the industry and watching them all together feels like a treat. The chemistry of the actresses lifts the film to levels it would not be able to go otherwise.

When on-screen together you can’t help but feel their magnetism. Their energy and charisma truly drive the story home. Tomlin and Fonda had been a pair on the hit Netflix show ‘Grace and Frankie’ for seven seasons. Together they played two old friends with opposing worldviews that have to come to each other for support after they find out their husbands are gay together. The addition of Moreno and Field’s makes you wish they could all be in a show together.

With four character arcs to delve into there isn’t a lot of time to get through it all. Tomlin remains as the emotional core in the film but each character has their own revelations they have to make as they go on the journey.

Tomlin as Lou, is a cancer survivor who seems to be the glue that sticks all of the ladies together. Fonda plays the bachelor who can’t find anyone to settle down with, although now she worries maybe love is just too late for her. As a former math professor, Sally plays the logistical Betty; who has been married the longest and seems to be tormented by her needy husband and Moreno’s, Maura, deals with the grievance of her husband’s passing and experiencing life alone for the first time.

A Story of Aging

‘80 for Brady’ highlights the struggles of aging, as each character has to face the inevitabilities that come with life. The ordinary becomes extraordinary for these women as the boundaries of their daily routines become their main grievances. This creates some of the most comical moments in the film that can feel quite relatable like when Maura takes the wrong pharmaceutical pill that puts her to sleep or dealing with the inner clicks at the nursing home.

Tomlin, Fonda, Moreno, and Field show how you can be active and continue to be a present force in the world even when you may not feel that way anymore. The characters are real and lived in. Although, understanding of where they are at in life, there is still a sense of adventure and wonder in all of them.

They are determined to do what they can for one last adventure. The value of friendship becomes an evident theme across the entire piece. The support they get from each other keeps them going to be strong for the future ahead. As each character deals with their own issues there are moments that allow for a break to discuss the character’s dilemmas giving a new perspective to something not often seen.

Efforts in Hollywood to produce content for all varieties of people continues to grow and get better, but work always can be done. Stories dedicated to the questions of senior life seldom find the time of day on screen. Seeing these women take the steps to tell these stories is important as representation of all walks of life should be the goal.

A Tom Brady Production With Glitz and Glamour

Tom Brady gets his first production credit as his last Super Bowl with the New England Patriots becomes the central focus point. Almost like an homage to his career, the film highlights his early days and the best moments of his career. Surrounding the movie are odes to football and the legends who played the sport. Many Ex-NFL players are in the film as well as current New England Patriots’ players and coach Bill Belichick.

Any sports fan will understand the significance of the 2017 Super Bowl between the Patriots and the Falcons. As one of the most nail-biting sporting events, it lends itself perfectly to the dramatics of the film. The amazing game that happened may seem fake but is reality with many shots from the actual game being used. A fun play on history works with Lou being the guiding force that helps get the Patriots back in the game.

The overall film will make you laugh and chuckle at the comradery. ‘80 for Brady’ shows how sports can affect relationships and how they can play a large part in people’s lives. With more sports stars breaking their way into film this could be the first of many times we see Tom Brady on the big screen.

Kyle Marvin currently does not have any projects in the works but you can watch ‘The Climb’ on Prime Video. Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin will return to the screen again together in the Paul Weitz film ‘Moving On.’ Rita Moreno is set to appear in ‘Fast X’ directed by Louis Leterrier and will star Vin Diesel and Michelle Rodriguez. Sally Field has no upcoming projects in development but can be seen in this year’s ‘Spoiler Alert’ directed by Michael Showalter and stars Jim Parsons.

Credits

Writers: Emily Halpern and Sarah Haskins

Director: Kyle Marvin

Producers: Tom Brady and Donna Gigliotti

Cast Mentioned: Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Sally Field, and Rita Moreno

By Devon James

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Author

Devon James

Devon James is a screen and media writer determined to provide readers with engaging and informative content. His film industry background gives him an adept knowledge in the entertainment industry. This complies with The Hollywood Insider's mission to educate readers. Devon likes seeing hidden voices in film that provide new cultural perspectives. He enjoys the conversations cinema creates; hoping through his writing to open up topics for discussion.

View all posts

Devon James

Devon James is a screen and media writer determined to provide readers with engaging and informative content. His film industry background gives him an adept knowledge in the entertainment industry. This complies with The Hollywood Insider’s mission to educate readers. Devon likes seeing hidden voices in film that provide new cultural perspectives. He enjoys the conversations cinema creates; hoping through his writing to open up topics for discussion.