80 For Brady (2023)

The bottom line is that while there are four great women actresses (Rita Moreno, Sally Fields, Lily Tomlin, and Jane Fonda) who are all above a certain age, and it is amazing that they are all up and about and still working, nothing they could do could save this script and this concept. I watched on a transpcific flight, the very definition of a situation where a marginal movie can shine and it did not happen. It is not absoulutely awful, mind you, but it does not fulfill its promise. The story is inspired by the true story of four octogenarians whose devotion to each other is matched by their devotion to NFL quarterback Tom Brady. It’s a Cinderella story with four fairy godmothers, but instead of ugly step-sisters forcing them to do housework, these women are confronting the indignities of aging and the limits of mortality, with one of them really bumping up against it. They work towards a life long goal of seeing their beloved Patriots play in the Super Bowl, and against all odds and a lot of juggling, they manage to achieve that, more or less. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the film is produced by Tom Brady, who plays himself and has a (for me at least) surprisingly engaging screen presence.