Shadows on the Wall | 80 for Brady

80 for Brady

dir Kyle Marvin
scr Sarah Haskins, Emily Halpern
prd Tom Brady, Donna Gigliotti
with Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Rita Moreno, Sally Field, Tom Brady, Harry Hamlin, Glynn Turman, Billy Porter, Bob Balaban, Sara Gilbert, Matt Lauria, Guy Fieri
release US 3.Feb.23,
UK 24.Mar.23
23/US Paramount 1h38

Is it streaming?

The lead quartet's star wattage just about keeps this bizarre concoction afloat, as it straddles the space between goofy comedy, heart-warming sentiment and a celebration of American football culture. Apparently inspired by real events, the script has clearly been heavily fictionalised with wacky plot turns and nutty misadventures. It's never very funny, and the drama is thoroughly sappy, but these four grande dames of cinema keep it entertaining.

For 16 years, four octogenarian Boston women have gathered around their love of quarterback Tom Brady. Now in 2017 they decide to attend the Super Bowl in Houston and cheer him on in person. Lou (Tomlin) is the ringleader, secretly worried this might be a last hurrah before her cancer returns. Trish (Fonda) authors sexy fan-fiction novels and is open to love. Maura (Moreno) is a recent widow who knows she needs to spread her wings. And retired mathematician Betty (Field) wants to cut loose for a change, at least until she loses the tickets.

Shamelessly overloaded with product placement, this feels like a glossy 98-minute ad for the NFL. The geriatric slapstick adds an offbeat angle, thankfully avoiding most of the usual simplistic gags (although there's still a pot gummy incident). Without ever quite deciding on a genre, director Marvin keeps the story moving briskly enough, with plenty of sparky energy and witty banter. But the overall effect is only gently amusing thanks to the central foursome and their celebrity cameo-style costars, while the message about relying on friends feels cosy but forced.

Tomlin, Fonda, Moreno and Field effortlessly shine through all of it, diving into the physicality, embracing the corny humour and offering emotional bear hugs all around. Their camaraderie is so strong that there's very little texture to their inter-connection. Only a few side roles emerge as proper characters, namely Hamlin (as Trish's love interest), Turman (Maura's friend), Gilbert (Lou's daughter) and Lauria (Betty's crush). Naturally, Porter can't help but sparkle as a half-time choreographer. While Brady, Fieri and several others play rather dull versions of themselves.

The demographic crossover between sports movies and retiree comedies may be a little slim, but there's something in this movie for most audiences, even if it's never particularly satisfying for anyone. It's simply too thinly written and lazily directed to generate many guilty pleasure vibes. That said, it's refreshing to see a movie that's centred around four women of a certain age who don't need men and definitely have a lot of life left in them.

themes, language 13.Mar.23

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