“Tag” – Movie Review

This week, I attended an advanced screening of the new comedy “Tag”, starring Ed Helms, Jon Hamm and Jeremy Renner.

Synopsis

When former classmates reunite to play their annual game of Tag, will they be able to finally make a member of their group lose after all these years?

Story

It’s May and that means one thing:  Hoagie (Helms) and a bunch of his childhood friends have to assemble for their annual game of Tag which they’ve been playing since childhood.  This year, however, it’s going to be a little different from years past:  their buddy Jerry (Renner) is getting married and as a result, will retire from the decades-long game with his friends once he takes a wife.  Therefore, this year’s game will be the last opportunity any of them  may ever have to tag Jeremy as “It” because he’s been the only one of his friends who has successfully evaded being tagged. 

Hoagie then sets out across the country for the purpose of not only continuing the game, but also to entreat his lifelong friends to join him in his quest to make Jerry “It” before it’s too late.  After a bit of convincing – which includes some rather strenuous games of Tag – Hoagie is ultimately able to get Randy (Jake Johnson), Sable (Hannibal Buress) and Callahan (Hamm) to join him in his quest.  Together, they travel back to their hometown to hunt down Jerry before he gets married.  Jerry introduces them to his betrothed, Susan (Leslie Bibb), and they are immediately smitten. 

Susan, while supportive of Jerry, doesn’t want her wedding to become a travesty by this game.  Therefore, Jerry requires the men to promise that while playing Tag, they won’t disrupt the wedding ceremony itself – and furthermore, they must agree to completing the game before the wedding.  If Jerry loses by the wedding day, then so be it – but if they haven’t managed to Tag him by then, then the game is officially over.  What the men soon come to realize is that both Jerry and Susan are in cahoots to plan various deceptions that will cause Jerry to avoid being tagged.  As the wedding day draws near, will the men be able to get their wish and tag Jerry or will he forever remain victorious? 

Review

“Tag” has a cast quite capable of comedy and decent jokes sprinkled throughout, but sometimes it feels like it doesn’t know if it wants to be a comedy or an action film.  It would be understandable if you assumed this was just another bro-fest buddy road movie – and in some ways, it is precisely that.  But the filmmakers do make an effort to try to be more inclusive of women as a key parts of the story.  That said, it does come across as a little bit forced; also, when you consider that this is inspired by a true story (from a Wall Street Journal newspaper article), it seems even more contrived.

Despite the fact that “Tag” is a short movie – it comes in at under two hours – it starts dragging during the second act, making it feel a little longer.  During that period, you start getting the reaction that you understand the premise and they need to get along with it – but there are certain plot points introduced that wind up taking you on some unnecessary and unwelcomed detours.  One example is the character of Cheryl, played by Rashida Jones.  Although Jones is fine, the character is not terribly crucial to the story.  One gets the impression that this character was added merely to have a romantic interest and pad out the film’s running time.

In some ways, this might have played better as a documentary; as a matter of fact, videos of the actual men playing the game are shown at the end of the movie and this seems much more fascinating.  Instead, they got a bunch of familiar names with a big Hollywood budget and trivialized the entire tale.  Among the few bright spots are portrayals by Buress and Isla Fisher as Anna, Hoagie’s wife.  That said, despite the performances and occasional verbal and sight gags, there isn’t enough to elevate the film above the mundane.