80 FOR BRADY
US, 2023, 98 minutes, Colour.
Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Rita Moreno, Sally Field, Tom Brady, Billy Porter, Harry Hamlin, Guy Fieri, Alex Moffat, Rob Corddry Glynn Turman, Bob Balaban, Jimmy O. Yang, Sarah Gilbert, Sally Kirkland, Patton Oswalt.
Directed by Kyle Rogers.
80 for Brady is emblazoned on the back of the NFL jerseys (hoping this is the correct term) worn by the fans of the Boston Patriots, a group of four friends who have been following the players and, especially, Tom Brady, for 16 years. They gather their television set, go through a ritual of spilling tea, throwing crisps, which they think will influence the team to win. But, the main thing is that they are all 80 plus or minus. In fact, of the four stars, Rita Moreno was 90 at time of filming, Jane Fonda 85, Lily Tomlin 83, and Sally Field a mere 76 (and continually reminding her friends that she is still in her 70s!)
This is a very American film, with very American football (men piling on top of each other as the remark), culminating in the annual Super Bowl play-off. For many audiences outside the States, the action is a bit alien, a bit hard to share the enthusiasm of the octogenarian fans. However, it is the stars that we are eager to see (that is older cinemagoers who remember these for top actresses, remembering that Rita Moreno won her Oscar for West Side Story in 1961, that Jane Fonda made her movie debut in 1960, Tall Story, that Lily Tomlins was emerging Laugh-In the late 1960s and, in the mid-60s, Sally Field was the Flying Nun).
Tom Brady himself, in fact producing the film, appearing in it, along with his fellow champions, is a hero in America but Australian audiences may well have to Google.
You would have to be better for sourpuss not to enjoy some of the antics as the old ladies (their reference to themselves) try for a competition to win tickets to go to the Super Bowl in Houston, find themselves caught up in all the fanfare, the competitions (Sally field winning the spiced chicken marathon catered by TV chef Guy Fieri, Rita Moreno winning thousands at poker only to find that it is a charity game, Jane Fonda reading from one of her erotic novels to adoring readers, Lily Tomlin, with cancer diagnosis, urging them on for their last hurrah).
Most of the drama, in fact, concerns losing the tickets and some unexpected dire consequences – but, the day is always saved, Tom Brady looking down from posters or from television screens urging them on, and, Lily Tomlin’s strong pep, morale boosting talk when the patriots are down at the end of the third quarter.
Depending on your sense of humour, this is a film that you will laugh at or, perhaps, just smile at. The screenwriters try to piling in all the jokes and stereotypes they can, but it is all in cheerful mood.
It is not being disrespectful to advise that, as the octogenarian’s might say, this is a film to take your grandmothers to. Of course, the grandmothers might have beaten you to it and seen it already!
- The title? American and the NFL? The reputation of Tom Brady? Audiences outside the United States?
- A film for older audiences, the stars and their careers and reputation? Audiences enjoying seeing them letting down their hair and old age?
- Lou’s story, Lily Tomlin, age, cancer diagnosis, treatment, the concern of her daughter, the story about watching the television and the football, seeing Tom Brady, the rituals each year, spilling the chips…?
- Lou and her friends, Trish, Jane Fonda and the sex appeal, writing sexy novels? Glamour, wings, flirting, seen with her without her wigs? Maura, Rita Moreno, age, grieving her husband, living in aged care, the friendship with Mickey? Betty, Sally Field, academic, maths, her career, family, phone calls from Mark, his writing his article, dependence on her? The gathering for the matches, enjoying the rituals, diehard fans?
- Lou, the decision to go to the Super Bowl, the effect on each of the friends? Nat and Pat on the television, their commentary, competition? Each of the friends ringing the competition, their stories? Lou declaring they had one? The preparations, the delay at the home when M was Maura asleep, the plane, arriving in Huston?
- The excitement in Houston, the range of adventures, the hotel, sharing the room and beds, going to the exhibition, Betty and the spiced chicken competition, Trish and her fans, reading her novels and acclaim? Maura, the poker, winning, discovering it was a charity game?
- Lou, her daughter and concern? Going to the party, the loss of the tickets?
- The drama with the loss of the tickets, the search, Betty getting her bag back? Then not being let in, the fake tickets, Lou’s story, selling the car, wanting to be at the Super Bowl? Getting in with the help of Gugu and the dance audition?
- Dan, charming, sports reputation, flirting with Trish? His getting them into the box for the ball?
- The security guard, his attitude, letting them in – but later securing them after their intrusion?
- The scores, Nat and Pat and their commentary, Lou, in the box, talking to Tom Brady, giving him advice, encouragement, the end of the game, success?
- Tom Brady, his reputation, the ads, the posters, on television, talking to Lou? Meeting her afterwards, thanking her? The other actual players?
- The aftermath, Lou and her recovery, the next match, everybody joining in, celebration?
