Starring Academy Award® nominee Lily Tomlin, and Oscar® winners Jane Fonda, Rita Moreno, and Sally Field*, 80 FOR BRADY is inspired by a true story of friendship and adventure. Four lifelong friends set out on an unforgettable journey to see their hero Tom Brady play in Super Bowl LI and witness one of the greatest comebacks in sports history, discovering that it’s never too late to live life to the fullest.
For thoughts on 80 For Brady, please check out my colleague Dom Fisher’s review from its theatrical debut here.
Video Quality
Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment brings 80 For Brady to Blu-Ray with a lovely 1080p video presentation. The image is clean and clear with a bright, natural color palette popping off the screen. The film shows off with some vibrant splashes of color within the clothing and production design which makes for a sumptuous image. The black levels are appropriately deep, but digital noise does prove to be a minor issue in a handful of moments. Flesh tones are natural with gentle nuances showcased well in close-ups and medium shots. The presentation provides a significant amount of depth on display, especially when the gang is in the expo center. This is a top notch presentation from Paramount.
Audio Quality
The Blu-Ray comes with a surprisingly robust Dolby Atmos track that brings this movie to life better than you might imagine. Dialogue comes through clearly without ever being overwhelmed by competing voices or environmental factors. Everything is balanced perfectly with directional accuracy across all channels. The sounds of the various environments provide a good amount of activity in the rear channels and height channels. This is obviously not an action film, but there are several moments that feel very immersive such as the crowds gathered at the Super Bowl. Music does a nice job of complementing the mood of the narrative as the track fills the room in a truly enveloping way. This track is terrific on all fronts, and it offers a richness that studios often fail to give their comedies. There are optional English, English SDH, Spanish and French subtitles provided.
Special Features
- The Game Plan – Making 80 For Brady: A 14-minute featurette in which the cast and creative team discuss the themes of the film, the real-life story that inspired this narrative, how Tom Brady connects with the story, the facets of their characters, the emotions and more.
- The Goats – Jane, Lily, Rita & Sally: A nine-minute look at this legendary quartet of actresses in which various members of the ensemble discuss what it meant to them to work along with insights from the actresses about why they wanted to be a part of this film.
- The Visiting Team – Meet The Supporting Cast: A seven-minute look at the sprawling ensemble, what drew them to the material, what it was like filming with these legendary performers and more.
- The Largest Comeback In Super Bowl History: A six-minute look at the fateful Super Bowl game that serves as the climax of the film, why Tom Brady wanted to tell this particular story, getting his teammate on board and more.
- Deleted and Extended Scenes: Three unused scenes totaling four minutes are provided here featuring some extended moments with Sally Field, a book signing with the Jane Fonda character and more.
Final Thoughts
80 For Brady delivers what you want from the premise, which is the opportunity to spend some time with four legendary actresses in a lightly pleasant narrative. We do wish the jokes could be a bit more consistent, but there are enough chuckles to keep you satisfied. The emotional moments can be a bit obvious, but they are likewise effective for what they are trying to accomplish without fully manipulating you. Every actress gets at least one big moment to shine, and the ensemble assembled here is filled to the brim with talent. Paramount Home Entertainment has released a Blu-Ray that sports fantastic A/V presentation and a few brief special features. If you are a fan of the talent involved, you will enjoy seeing them together even if it does not make full use of their talents. Recommended
80 For Brady will be available to purchase on Blu-Ray and DVD on May 2, 2023.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.