Human beings, for the most part, are social creatures and as such, they seek out friendships for camaraderie. Regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, gender, or age, people come together to share in each other's lives. Whether in good times or bad, they laugh, cry, and sometimes fight but they come back to each other time and time again.
Such is the case for the 80 for Brady Club - five women whose circumstances found them meeting every Sunday at each other's homes to watch the New England Patriots, specifically quarterback Tom Brady, play football. When one of the ladies' grandsons, who works in the film industry, pitched the idea for a film, it wasn't immediately green-lit but eventually, it made its way to theaters and now to retail stores where Paramount Pictures has released the 80 for Brady Blu-ray combo pack.
Four friends - Lou (Lily Tomlin; 9 to 5), Trish (Jane Fonda; The Book Club), Maura (Rita Moreno; Fast X), and Betty (Sally Field; Forrest Gump) are celebrating the Patriots winning the AFC title and begin to plan their Super Bowl watch party. When Lou suggests they think about actually going to the Super Bowl, the idea is shot down due to cost. However, when they win tickets to the game from a local radio show, they begin their adventure. Of course, in true "road trip" fashion, anything that can go wrong does.
These actresses are legends on their own but collectively they are iconic. They have great chemistry and their bond comes through on screen. While Fonda is cast as the harlot, and she plays the part well, Moreno and Field are the shining stars of this group. Tomlin rounds out the group and completes the four corners of a square. Had the screenplay been better, they would have had more to work with but despite that, they made the most of their roles and the film.
The 1080p resolution offers a clean and bright picture. The video quality is sharp and the colors pop off the screen. Blacks are deep and true giving the film a rich look and feel. Surprisingly, the audio is presented in Dolby Atmos instead of DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. The quality, as one can imagine, is excellent with crisp dialogue and abundant ambient noise, especially when the ladies are tailgating and at the game. The soundtrack is robust and the audio uses all the speakers giving the viewer a truly immersive experience.
With five "featurettes" totaling approximately 40 minutes of footage, the extras aren't bad per se but they aren't the best I've ever seen either. I'm willing to bet there are some hilarious outtakes created by the four leading actresses and watching these consummate professionals break character would have put a smile on anyone's face. Unfortunately, bloopers aren't one of the extras in this case. The extras include The Game Plan - Making 80 For Brady, The Goats - Jane, Lily, Rita & Sally, The Visiting Team - Meet The Supporting Cast, The Largest Comeback In Super Bowl History, and Deleted and Extended Scenes.
With Mother's Day approaching, this Blu-ray combo pack would be the perfect gift for a more mature, sports-loving mom. The cast is excellent, the story is what you would expect (no surprises) and the laughs are plentiful. You could also pick this up if you or someone you love is a Tom Brady, Sally Field, Rita Lorena, Jane Fonda, and/or Lily Tomlin fan. It isn't a requirement for you to enjoy the film but it doesn't hurt if you are.
With great visuals and audio, some cute extras, and four feisty older ladies with proven acting chops, 80 for Brady is a feel-good film that will want to make you plan a "road trip".
Grade: C+
