• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Effie Caldarola
          • John Garvey
          • Father Ed Dougherty, M.M.
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
  • CR Radio
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
Rita Moreno, Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Sally Field star in a scene from the movie "80 For Brady." The OSV News classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. (OSV News photo/Paramount Pictures)

Movie Review: ’80 for Brady’

February 4, 2023
By John Mulderig
OSV News
Filed Under: Movie & Television Reviews

A bunch of talented stars headline the comedy “80 for Brady” (Paramount). But they’re left becalmed by the inertia of this going-through-the-motions paean to football fandom.

Lily Tomlin tries to lead the charge down the field as spunky, of-an-age cancer survivor Lou. Like her three best pals, Trish (Jane Fonda), Maura (Rita Moreno) and Betty (Sally Field), Lou has long been a devotee of the New England Patriots in general and the celebrated quarterback of the title in particular.

With their team set to face off against the Atlanta Falcons in 2017’s Superbowl LI, the quartet enters a contest for tickets to the event. But after what appears to be their initial success, complications arise.

Although based on real-life events, director Kyle Marvin’s evidently well-intentioned and potentially endearing film rings false in every respect. That includes its more serious attempts to celebrate friendship and perseverance against the odds.

Still, the movie is mostly as tame as it is meandering. There is a strange excess of OMGs in screenwriters Sarah Haskins and Emily Halpern’s script. And vague old-lady eroticism is occasionally played for laughs.

Thus we learn, early on, that Trish writes Harlequin-style fan fiction centered on Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski. That’s about as spicy as things get, however.

Grown viewers, accordingly, won’t have to tackle anything too disagreeable in the proceedings – unless they’re Falcons fans. In the unlikely event that older teens evince an interest in this halfhearted endeavor to spike the Geritol, parents needn’t necessarily drop a penalty flag on them either. But mature adolescents will likely gain as little yardage as AARP members.

The film contains restrained sexual humor, drug use, pervasive mild swearing, at least one rough term and about a half-dozen crude expressions. The OSV News classification is A-III — adults. The Motion Picture Association rating is PG-13 — parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

John Mulderig is media reviewer for OSV News.

Read More Movie & Television Reviews

Movie Review: ‘John Wick: Chapter 4, a festival of fatality’

Movie Review: ‘In Viaggio: The Travels of Pope Francis’

Movie Review: ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods’

Movie Review: ’65’

TV Review: ‘History of the World: Part II’

Movie Review: ‘Scream VI’

Copyright © 2023 OSV News

Print Print

Primary Sidebar

John Mulderig

John Mulderig is media reviewer for OSV News.

View all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

| MOST POPULAR |

  • Pathfinders: Five Archdiocese of Baltimore women who made history
  • Movie Review: ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods’
  • RADIO INTERVIEW: Dining with the Saints
  • Sister Elizabeth Ellen Kane, O.S.F., dies at 81
  • Legendary communist-era priest, Father Blachnicki, was murdered, Polish authorities confirm

| CURRENT EDITION |

| Lent |

Fully entering into the Triduum

A heart filled with scorn, vain presumption is a ticket to hell, pope says

Archdiocese dispenses with meatless obligation for St. Patrick’s Day

Hold the tuna casserole; pass the crab cake this Lent

Question Corner: Do we relax our Lenten fasts on Sunday?

| Crisis in Ukraine |

Pope calls European bishops to be prophetic voices for peace

Pope asks Catholics to renew consecration of world to Mary every March 25

West Virginia parishes, people help Ukrainians find safe haven in Mountain State

Rosary project supplies ‘long-range, heart-changing weapons’ to Ukraine

US extends stay for thousands of Ukrainians as war enters second year

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

| Movie & Television Reviews |

Movie Review: ‘John Wick: Chapter 4, a festival of fatality’

Movie Review: ‘In Viaggio: The Travels of Pope Francis’

Movie Review: ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods’

Movie Review: ’65’

TV Review: ‘History of the World: Part II’

| En español |

En la frontera de México y EE.UU., defensores de migrantes que buscan asilo hacen un llamado a la acción

Papa Francisco: Sin la fuerza del Espíritu Santo, la evangelización es publicidad vacía

Papa: Acoger a migrantes y refugiados es el primer paso hacia la paz

La vigilia del Sínodo será expresión del “ecumenismo solidario”, dice reverenda

El Papa trae la experiencia católica latinoamericana a la Iglesia universal

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Vatican envoy warns UN General Assembly racism mutating and ‘reemerging’ globally
  • ‘We all need to do more’: House hearing demands action over Nicaragua regime’s anti-Catholic persecution
  • Notre Dame Cathedral reopening date announced as reconstruction on its famous spire wraps up in eastern France
  • AI and the meaning of life: Tech industry turns to religious leaders
  • Movie Review: ‘John Wick: Chapter 4, a festival of fatality’
  • Pope calls European bishops to be prophetic voices for peace
  • En la frontera de México y EE.UU., defensores de migrantes que buscan asilo hacen un llamado a la acción
  • At U.S.-Mexico border, migrants’ advocates call for action on U.S. asylum policy
  • Jewish parents challenge California ban on special education funds at religious schools

Search

Membership

Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2023 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED