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MOVIE REVIEW: Tag

Garth Cremona (RIP)

For years a group of friends having been playing the longest game of Tag ever, as they grow into their forties they keep up the game during the month of May.  One friend has never been tagged, he’s the ninja of the friends and is determined in the year he’s finally getting married to keep his perfect marriage.  The four other members agree that they won’t spoil his wedding but will tag him.  This is based on a true story.

I can’t say that I understand the basis for this film, I know it’s about a real group of friends who for decades have kept up the dumbest childhood game, it’s just that even I think the lengths they go to are very childish.  That’s me saying that.  I wear superhero everything and I mean everything.  But each to their own and I guess that the real people behind this story have their reasons and in some strange way keeps them close.

Here I felt that this is somehow the Hangover part 4 but it’s enjoyable enough.  Ed Helms seems to be the character that will go to the biggest length to tag another friend.  He explains that Jerry, played by Jeremy Renner, the only friend who has NEVER been tagged, is planning on quitting the game after this year.  Obviously Jerry wants to go out with that perfect scorecard.  But the four other friends are determined to destroy it.  You have Ed Helms who has a very competitive wife in Isla Fisher, who is the best and most comedic thing about the film, as the leader of the group of friends.  Jon Hamm as the successful business man who leaves everything to be part of this hunt.  Hamm has a unique comic timing and underrated comic timing. Hannibal Buress as the neurotic friend who is trying to better himself but this years game is coming at a bad time.  Buress basically acts as the voice of reason that is mostly unlistened to during the insanity.  Finalising the team is Jake Johnson who is playing the stoner no hoper of the group who has moved back home with his Dad and is going nowhere in life.  Renner is Jerry the one to tag, and his Ninja like reflexes and training which we must assume comes from playing Hawkeye.

The Hangover reference is apt as the long running time goes on and on.  There did need to be about 30 minutes cut from the film as 75% of the jokes don’t work.  The best bits are with Isla Fisher who has this major competitive streak, she’s able to turn on the madness from nothing and it’s just what the movie needs.  The comedy goes to some dark places and in one or two cases even I questioned the taste levels.

It’s not awful, far from amazing, and with a little more of a harsh view in the editing room we’d probably be giving this another half point or full point.  As the four try to tag jerry and his Bourne style seems to kick in you question how far from the original story they had to thread so that they could make a movie out of what is a basic filler story in a newspaper.  While I’m slightly down on the idea of the film and the likeness to The Hangover series is one that I mean with contempt I would happily pay in to see this again because there are good jokes, there is brilliance from Isla Fisher, and in the background a heart.  That’s more than most comedies.

[yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]

Director: Jeff Tomsic
Writers: Rob McKittrick, Mark Steilen, Russell Adams
Stars: Jeremy Renner, Ed Helms, Jake Johnson, Hannibal Buress  & more… See full cast & crew

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Garth Cremona (RIP)
Comic book creator and movie reviewer. You can find out more at www.dublinwriter.com
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