In my movie reviews, I usually try to avoid any spoilers that are not in the trailer or the first half hour of the movie. You can watch the trailer at the end of this post.
Tag is directed by Jeff Tomsic and stars Ed Helms, Jake Johnson, Hannibal Buress, Jon Hamm, Jeremy Renner, Annabelle Wallis, Isla Fisher, Rashida Jones and Leslie Bibb .
Tag is about five grown men who every year spend the month of May playing tag, a game which they have continued for the past 30 years, since they were 9. Jerry (Renner) has never been tagged in all this time. With the news that Jerry plans to retire from the game, Hoagie (Helms) gathers the rest of the gang (Hamm, Burress and Johnson) to collaborate in a plan to finally tag Jerry and make him "it."
It's an enjoyable action comedy with a great cast. Jeremy Renner is the action star. Burress and Hamm have great comedic lines while Helms provides more of the physical comedy. Johnson is the stoner. Isla Fisher as Hoagie's wife provides some relief from the testosterone overload, although she is as eager as any of the men to help tag Jerry. Leslie Bibb plays Jerry's fiance Susan, who does not want their game to ruin her wedding.
Much is made about how it is inspired by an actual group of men who really have been playing such a game into adulthood. It's a good marketing tool, as the concept is too ridiculous to be believed without this reference to the real thing. However, nobody should think this has any basis in fact beyond the basic premise. It's just an original concept to place a twist on the men behaving like boys formula. It's a great basis for comedy, similar to movies like Old School and Step Brothers. It came as no surprise to read that Will Ferrell was originally attached to star in this film.
“We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.”- George Bernard Shaw
The above quote is cited frequently in the film. There is truth to that, but I would also say that holding onto nostalgia from one's youth will also make one grow old. The film focuses much on how the game is great because it kept the group in each others lives all these years. But is this necessarily something people should want? I couldn't even tell you who my friends were at 9 years old, much less that I cared enough to want to keep in touch years later. It's this sentimentality for youth that kind of hurts the film.
Long friendships are certainly something rare that can be worthy of a story. I noticed an earlier Beastie Boys song on the soundtrack. There is a perfect example of 3 guys who managed to continue working together through ups and downs, multiple comebacks and second chances at fame, right up until Adam Yauch's death. This film isn't the story of close friends who stayed together, but rather about friends who have gone completely separate ways but stay in each others lives once a month. There is something nostalgic about it that doesn't work for me. However, a game of tag once a month is a bit compelling.
The movie is enjoyable enough to watch, but I don't see this holding up to multiple viewings. At least it didn't resort to gross out gags. It's an awesome cast and I am glad to Jon Hamm and Hannibal Buress in lead roles. If I must rate it, I give it a C+.