It’s not often you can say the four lead actors of a film are a combined 335 years of age.  Lily Tomlin (83), Jane Fonda (85), Rita Moreno (91) and Sally Field (76) play four long-time friends from Boston who, thanks to the sex appeal of Tom Brady, have become fans of the New England Patriots.  The year is 2017 and having watched the Patriots win the AFC Championship Game from the comfort of a living room, their attention turns to Super Bowl LI to be held in Houston.  They win a competition to get 4 lucrative tickets and go on a “girls’ weekend” to see if their favourite quarterback can lift the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

Jane Fonda’s character plays a writer who has authored popular, Mills & Boon-style fan-fiction novels about women being seduced by successful footballers.  It’s relevant because the screenplay here is as trashy as those books.  It becomes more unrealistic with each scene – reaching a point where Lily Tomlin is providing motivational speeches to Tom Brady while he sits on the sideline mid-game.  I’d have preferred a dash more credibility but hey, it’s intended to be a simple comedy and there will be audience for this.

The characters have backstories but there’s very little in the way of development.  Subplots are fleetingly touched upon (Sally Field’s annoying husband, Rita Moreno’s potential suitor) but they don’t go anywhere.  The focus is more on wacky set pieces – from drugs unknowingly consumed at a pre-game party, to a hot sauce eating competition, to a strange poker tournament.  The material is predictable, repetitive, and lame… but a handful of jokes hit the mark and it’s nice to see these veteran actresses working alongside each other.

Just like Cocaine Bear, this film is looooooosely based on a true story.  You’ll see the real women pictured during the closing credits but they never actually went to the 2017 Super Bowl.  They were just a group of long-time friends who got together each week to watch games on television while consuming a few snacks and beverages.  It was one of their grandson’s who first pitched the idea of a movie and Tom Brady’s new production company thought it was a great idea (no surprise there).  Brady makes a few cameos during the film which may help lure a wider audience.

Released in the United States back in February to coincide with this year’s Super Bowl, 80 for Brady has been late making it to Australia.  Despite the experience of its stars, I’d keep your expectations low.