Tom Brady isn’t a rescuing hero in this soccer documentary

When the guy isn’t playing quarterback, I don’t think there’s anything to admire about him.

Given the joy he provided to our region, not to mention the six Lombardi Trophies, you can bet that’s a difficult thing to write. Patriots supporters are undoubtedly saying, “You dope, how dare you?” “What took you so long, you dope?” is likely what non-Patriots fans are saying.

Here is the general timeline, then. I loved every amazing thing he did on the field during his 20 years with the Patriots, but I also knew that he was getting weird on us with things like the Alex Guerrero connection, the offensively expensive TB12 gear, and the no-mushroom policy. Still, his exceptional late-career success made for a compelling argument for him. I cringed when the once-down-to-earth young quarterback, who used to drink beer faster than his linemen, started pushing cryptocurrency and running with the oligarch class. As Fox’s lead NFL analyst last fall, I watched nearly every broadcast of his rookie season and came to the conclusion that he didn’t show much personality because it might not be there to show.

However, Brady’s actions in his reimagining of a popular habit among the wealthy, well-known, and presumably bored—purchasing an English soccer team and producing a documentary about it in which the star plays the hero—were the catalyst that led to the aforementioned insight.

The five-episode documentary series Brady & the Blues: Built in Birmingham made its Amazon Prime premiere at the end of July. Brady and his private equity friend Tom Wagner see an undervalued asset (it’s always sweet when vultures find their food) and buy a Championship soccer team, which is the second division of English soccer, below the Premier League. Brady takes on a minority ownership stake but has full managerial responsibilities.

It is not at all horrible to be built in Birmingham. Players (the third episode, which tells the backstory of star player Jay Stansfield, is the best in the series), the team (whose history roughly resembles the Red Sox from 1919-2003), and the city (gritted, industrial, and full of humorously blunt fans that will remind you of certain Ted Lasso side characters) are all compelling.

The issue is that Brady makes it much less engaging. He uses banalities and bromides when addressing the players. Regarding his experience with the Patriots (and Bucs), which he appears to assume these football players know from A to Z and XXXVI to LV, we rehearse like it’s the Super Bowl. He uses a particular word so frequently to emphasize his Cliff Notes Tony Robbins declarations that it’s surprising it hasn’t been accidentally included in a Fox program.

Brady, who characterizes his involvement as being present in a visionary position, only comes across as genuine when he is insulting someone or upset. As they travel to view the Blues’ historic facilities for the first time, he joins his friends in making patronizing remarks about the city and the team. The notoriously owned by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, Brady tells the camera, “Let’s go get a [expletive] win against Wrexham,” prior to a game against the team. Mackilrey, Ryan Reynolds, or whatever [expletive] name you have.

When Wagner tells Brady that it would be improper to put together a gift bag for visiting icon David Beckham Brady’s expression implies that Joey Galloway simply took the wrong path once more, and Beckham never played for the squad. With a frown, he informs Wagner that Beckham ought to receive a gift nevertheless.

He enjoys talking about how he was the underdog, but it seems like he has forgotten what it was like or who he was.

In the first episode, Brady, Wagner, and his group plotted in the back of an SUV before stopping by a nearby pub to meet some fans for a little PR chance and some further Lasso vibes. This was the most unsettling scene. “Boys, we need to feel this one out,” Brady says. I’m not into this.

It will just take fifteen minutes, he is informed. He inquires as to whether he will be signing autographs. He is supposed to appear like a man of the people thanks to the pop-in. Once he’s in the pub, he’s amiable enough, but we know his true feelings. These days, it’s not his people that drink beer.

While watching the series, I hoped that by the fifth episode, Brady would have a revelation, give up the slick corporate speak, give up the conceited belief that his words have weight because of his NFL accomplishments, and display some genuine emotion, like he did after winning those first few Super Bowls. I hoped that whatever success he experienced in Birmingham would evoke real feelings in him by reminding him of his favorite moments with the Patriots.

Rather, it occurred with Wagner, the astute investor who ultimately has a financial interest in the members of this team. Despite the Brady annoyance, this show is worth watching, therefore I won’t give away the plot.

I was thinking, “Man, when the private-equity guy can summon more passion than Tom Brady, that’s awfully damning,” as I watched Wagner’s incredibly moving and heartfelt statement in the fifth episode.

Hmm. Perhaps Fox ought to consider hiring Wagner as its chief NFL commentator.

Boston.com’s sports columnist is Chad Finn. For the last four years, he has been chosen as Boston’s Favorite Sports Writer by the Channel Media Market and Research Poll. In addition, he contributes to Globe Magazine and writes a weekly sports media column for the Globe.