Football has never been appealing to me as a sport. Watching over three hours of guys shoving each other to throw a ball over a grassy rectangle has always sounded like fresh hell to me. So imagine my surprise when I found myself actively cheering during 80 For Brady after each touchdown with a massive smile on my face (along with my entire crowd, don’t worry), highly invested in a game that a) had already happened, b) I think I might have already seen, and c) I was never interested in. It wasn’t because of the power of Tom Brady or because I became a Patriots fan while watching this film. Rather, what got me invested in this silly little game was the passion four old, lovable ladies had for its outcome. For 98 minutes, their adoration of this sport was infectious, and I became as devoted a Patriots fan as someone could possibly become while having a general distaste for football. 

The plot is admittedly the weakest element, since 80 for Brady mainly relies on its comedy and its ensemble’s charisma for entertainment. For instance, about 30 minutes of this film are devoted to these ladies watching the Super Bowl. Yeah… there is not a whole lot going on here story-wise. I was still invested throughout, though! Despite how simple the plot is when you really think about it, this film is such a fun time that I genuinely don't care. Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Rita Moreno, and Sally Field are all having such a wonderful time in this movie and play off each other so well. They are so adorable, hilarious, and easy to root for. Their comedic timing is also impeccable, and I wound up laughing out loud consistently throughout this film. The cameos from Billy Porter, Alex Moffat, Guy Fieri, Rob Gronkowski, and of course, Tom Brady were all deeply entertaining as well. The energy and enthusiasm every cast member has for this cute little film really elevates it into being a worthwhile experience. 

80 for Brady isn’t a particularly novel film, nor is it terribly creative or interesting. But it didn’t need to be. This film’s only goal is to give you an enjoyable time, and on that level it absolutely delivers. From the hilarious opening scene to the earworm of a credits song that is “Gonna Be You”, 80 for Brady is an absolute blast that I highly recommend.

8/10