FILM REVIEW: TAG (15)
SHOWCASE CINEMA DE LUX PETERBOROUGH, OUT NOW
CAST: ED HELMS, JON HAMM, JEREMY RENNER, JAKE JOHNSON, HANNIBAL BURESS, ISLA FISHER, ANNABELLE WALLIS, LESLIE BIBB & RASHIDA JONES
RUNNING TIME: 1 HR 40 MINS
DIRECTOR: JEFF TOMSIC
Inspired by true events. No, Seriously!
Tag is the American term for ‘tig’ – oh how different our cultures are.
It tells the story of five friends who, since being kids, have spent the entire month of May every year, playing tag (tig).
It was easy for them to play as kids while living in the same area, but as adults it requires travelling, elaborate planning, sneak attacks, disguises, and more.
Thirty years later, though, it seems like the fun may have to come to an end. Jerry (Jeremy Renner, aka Avengers Assemble’s Hawkeye) is the only one of the group to have never been tagged – not once in three decades – and he’s planning to retire from the game after this season.
Hogan (The Hangover’s Ed Helms) isn’t about to let him go out on top, and after discovering Jerry’s secretly getting married in the final week of May he organises a group effort to take him down.
The film also stars Jon Hamm (Baby Driver), Hannibal Buress (Bad Neighbours), Jake Johnson (The Mummy) and Isla Fisher (Now You See Me) – who all work really well together. When it comes to buddy movies, I find natural on-screen chemistry to be an important factor. Not one actor feels out of place at all – having the audience believe they are indeed lifelong friends.
Tag is overall an enjoyable movie – though it is uneven throughout.
Although consistently funny, the tone is light-hearted and fun one minute, then dark and uncomfortable the next. It doesn’t quite know what it wants to be – and it’s that major point will stop this from being listed amongst the comedy greats.
Finally, and on a personal note, hurrah for a film that normalises adults playing what is essentially a kids’ game. I am proud to say that in our thirties, my mates and I are still avid players. There’s worse things we could be doing, right?
Why not squeeze in a game yourself for old times sake – perhaps on the way to the cinema? Then take a break and enjoy this fun comedy yarn.
Rating: 3.5/5 - Mikey Clarke
OUT THIS WEEK IN SPALDING . . .
SOUTH HOLLAND CENTRE:
SHOW DOGS (PG), FROM TOMORROW
SATELLITE BROADCAST: EVERYBODY’S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE (12A), TODAY AT 7.20PM
COMING SOON:
THE HAPPY PRINCE (15), FROM JULY 16
JURASSIC WORLD: FALLEN KINGDOM (12A), FROM JULY 23
OCEAN’S 8 (12A), FROM JULY 23
