Sometimes all we need is a fabulous display of female friendship to remind us that we’re never too old for shenanigans, of which there is no shortage of in Kyle Marvin’s debut, 80 for Brady. With a livelihood in the same vein as Sex and the City and The Golden Girls, it’s the leading ladies that do much of the heavy lifting in this film, despite being surrounded by professional athletes in all directions. The ladies in question — Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Rita Moreno and Sally Field –have an indisputable chemistry that make up the core of 80’s entertainment value.
At the center of this part road trip, part buddy comedy and part sports drama is the actual story of a local Massachusetts fan club, Over 80 for Brady, who met weekly to watch the New England Patriots, but specifically their favorite heartthrob Tom Brady, leading up to the 2017 Super Bowl. With the idea of a group of older female sports fanatics as the foundation, 80 for Brady is much more glitzed and glamored and really wholeheartedly commits to its bit while honoring the real friendship behind it. After Lou’s (Tomlin) cancer is in remission, she decides that her group of girlfriends will attend the Super Bowl to see the man who brought them together each Sunday.
Each member of this legendary ensemble brings a unique youthfulness to the film that makes any lack of depth in the script feel passable. Trish (Fonda) grapples with her fast-paced dating life, Maura (Moreno), recently widowed, finds comfort in self-sufficiency and Betty (Field) finds not only is she an intellectual, but she’s more in touch with her sexuality than she thought. Tomlin as Lou is the emotional glue that brings all of these characteristics together. With each having individually successful careers in the film industry, no explanation is needed for how well they work together – especially in their comedic timing – which is why it’s simply a good time watching them play off one another in a way that never gets too serious for more than a moment.
80 for Brady is brimming with shenanigans, antics and obviously tomfoolery. Each time it seems as if it’ll delve into the hindrances of getting older, the girls are right back taking edibles, becoming spicy wing champions and using their wits and sensuality to get what they deserve. It’s as if the writers, Emily Halpern and Sarah Haskins, wanted to take aspects of popular comedy subgenres and exaggerate it so that we see some of the most accomplished actors of this century get to be silly and foolish and in some ways return to their comedic roots. Is it a film that takes itself seriously? Not at all, but there’s an exuberance to its cast that makes its silliness feel earned.
The topic of aging for women is always a sensitive one, but portrayals of genuine female friendship like in 80 for Brady will always offer an alternative narrative to the typical menopause-fearing propaganda we’ve been fed for far too long. The cool part about this is we’re able to see older women embrace vulgarity, become feared by men and also make a killing writing Rob Gronkowski fan fiction.
Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures
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