Tag

(spoiler free)

When ‘Tag’ was first announced it was safe to say that the majority of us thought this was a concept clutching at straws. However, given some time to digest the idea and after some trailers and promo footage it maybe didn’t seem like such a bad idea after all with the potential to be quite a lot of fun. Based on the true story of a group of men who play the same game of tag for one month every year could this comedy unlock that childhood nostalgia for its audiences?

The film features a great comedy cast with genre favourites like Ed Helms, Jake Johnson and Hannibal Buress. Completing the main group of childhood friends are Jon Hamm and Jeremy Renner. Renner plays Jerry, the only member of the gang who’s never been tagged. After being somewhat sidelined in his role as Hawkeye in the Marvel Cinematic Universe it’s clear that Renner is loving playing such an elusive and successful character in terms of this film’s narrative. He’s a great fit for the role and the rest of the gang perform well too. However it’s supporting performer, Isla Fisher who almost entirely steals the show. She plays Helm’s on screen wife and of all the characters she probably has the highest success rate with the gags she contributes to the film. The comedy featured here is good but never hysterical. It does enough to amuse its audiences though and should sustain their attention. Some gags potentially go a little too far, with one in particular seeming rather distasteful. The script keeps the gag going for sometime too and everytime it was brought up it did make me cringe. It is addressed within the film just how distasteful it is which somewhat excuses it but in this respect some of the comedy definitely pushes the limit.

I’ve already mentioned how the concept of the film originally felt a little weak however despite its potential limitations it actually works for a feature length narrative. It’s a whole lot of fun and the initial sequences of the gang trying to tag each other are especially entertaining. As the story develops as do the elaborate schemes to avoid being tagged, many of these are funny to watch but the constant debate about whether situations are fake or not, whilst originally a fun idea, does become tiresome. Many of the sequences which see the guys try to tag each other use a slow-motion technique to show audiences how every potential tag is avoided and how Jerry escapes from the countless set ups the guys try to use to tag him. This technique has mixed results. Whilst it offered a chance for some further comedy as we hear the inner thoughts of the guys as they try to tag or avoid being tagged it simultaneously slowed down the pace of these moments which could have had a real energetic quality to them.

So in the end, my biggest worry about the film, the concept, was actually the best thing about the film, and actually maybe not even fully realised. Some more sequences similar to the ones at the beginning could have made for a more consistently engaging film however it never becomes a bore and consistently evokes that sense of nostalgia. The comedy ensemble have enough chemistry to make sure viewers have a good time and I’d be surprised if audiences don’t leave the screen wanting to play their very own game of tag – you’re it!

Written by Hamish Calvert

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Rating – 6/10

Question: What is your favourite Jeremy Renner film performance?
(Leave your answers in the comments section below!)

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