Is sports comedy film 80 for Brady based on a true story?
It’s a movie about four women who decide to spice up their life and take a chance! And based on the trailer of 80 for Brady, that risk might just pay off. The film is now playing in theaters. Is it based on a true story?
The movie, directed by Kyle Marvin, follows four best friends, Lou, Trish, Maura, and Betty who are big Tom Brady fans. And so, they decide to just go to the 2017 Super Bowl LI. But as the trailer shows, they may not have thought things through. They didn’t buy any tickets! As they go an adventure to try and meet their sporty hero, the group get into some hilarious shenanigans.
The film stars Lily Tomlin as Lou, Jane Fonda as Trish, Rita Moreno as Maura, and Sally Field as Betty. And though he’s not in it for very long, according to PEOPLE, Tom Brady himself does appear in the movie as well!
The rest of the cast includes Billy Porter as Gugu, Rob Corddry as Pat, Alex Moffat as Nat, Guy Fieri as himself, Harry Hamlin as Dan, Bob Balaban as Mark, Glynn Turman as Mickey, Sara Gilbert as Sara, Jimmy O. Yang as Tony, Ron Funches as Chip, and Matt Lauria.
So is the sport comedy film based on a true story? Was there really a group of friends who did this? We’ve got the answer for you below!
Is 80 for Brady based on a true story?
80 for Brady is based on a real group of friends who are big Tom Brady fans, but there is something different. While in the movie the group of four decides to go to the Super Bowl on a whim, the real-life ladies never did that, per CBS News Sunday Morning.
According to the news show, Elaine St. Martin, Betty Pensavalle, Anita, Pat, and Claire are the ones behind the real-life fan club, “Over 80 for Brady,” and the gals the movie characters are based on. The friends became especially close after becoming widows, and never missed a Sunday football game together.
If they the fan club of lovely ladies never traveled to see Tom Brady live, how was the production even made? It’s thanks to Pensavalle’s grandson, Max, who works in the industry and pitched the idea. And for the cherry on top, the football player himself decided he wanted to help create the film and sent a video message to Pensavalle, per the news show.
So where are they today? St. Martin and Pensavalle are still megafans, Claire passed away, and Anita and Pat are in an assisted living facility, per the news show. And though they never actually went on a wild adventure like their onscreen counterparts, they haven’t given up hope that they could possibly meet their idol one day, CBS News Sunday Morning shares. Perhaps they will at the private premiere set up for them? For their sake, I sure do hope so!
80 for Brady is now playing in theaters. To see photos of the real-life women, be sure to head over to the CBS News Sunday morning website.