I’ve no doubt Paramount Pictures and the producers of “80 for Brady” are disappointed over Monday’s NFL results.
Tom Brady’s football season ended with a decisive loss to the Dallas Cowboys for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Brady now faces either retirement — which is unlikely– or a move to a better team like the Miami Dophins.
For Paramount, Brady in the Super Bowl would have been marketing magic. That’s because the studio has a movie set for release on February 3rd called “80 for Brady.” It’s the true story of four older female New England Patriots super fans who follow Brady to the Super Bowl. In the film, the women are played by Jane Fonda, Sally Field, Rita Moreno, and Lily Tomlin.
A lot has gone into this film. Diane Warren wrote a title song that’s sung by superstars Dolly Parton, Cyndi Lauper, Debbie Harry, Belinda Carlisle, and Gloria Estefan.
When all this was greenlit, I’m sure everyone involved thought: What could go wrong? Well, just Tom Brady — who makes a cameo in the film — having a bad season. And he did. The Buccaneers finished with eight wins and nine losses for the season. Brady is ready to leave the Buccaneers and end his career with a winning team. While he’s waiting, he may at least get a hit movie. Advance word on “80 for Brady” is that it’s a lot of fun, and a good potential winter hit — regardless of how the Buccaneers did. Fonda, et al may wind up the winning team of the season.
The movie going audience has already made “Where the Crawdads Sing” and “A Man Called Otto” hits. They can do it again.PS Youngster Sally Field– only just 76 — will be honored next month by the Screen Actor’s Guild for Lifetime Achievement. It’s about time. She’s only won 2 Oscars and rafts of other prizes.
