By JASON GUYER
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The wonderment of childhood and the inevitable nostalgia that comes along with it in adulthood are themes many films are built on. Often these types of films are made to remind us what childhood was like and why we miss it. Perhaps, for example, we have a memory of a hand reaching out and recall our eagerness to lay that hand on the shoulder of another person, to wash one’s self of a simple stigma, the stigma of being “it.”
In 2018, “Tag” is the movie I didn’t even realize I wanted and thought I would never like. That is, until I saw it. My first impression when I heard of and saw the trailer for “Tag” was me saying to myself, “That looks stupid.” How can a film about a simple child’s game be any good? Sure, maybe it will be an okay slapstick comedy film and the type of film that after you see it you forget you ever saw it.
The wonderful thing about films is their ability to surprise us and “Tag” surprised me.
“Tag” is about a small group of friends who at a young age organized an annual game of tag. To be fair, this is not your ordinary game of tag. These friends travel the country seeking each other. Seeking each other in ways not known to any ordinary game of tag. Costumes, elaborate schemes, and the advantageous use of inopportune moments in life are used to competitive advantage.
During one month of every year, all bets are off. Whether at a funeral or the birth of a child, no moment is safe. No safe zones, no timesies. Get tagged and you are it.
The group of friends consists of Hogan “Hoagie” Malloy (Ed Helms), Bob Callahan (Jon Hamm), Randy “Chilli” Cilliano (Jake Johnson), Kevin Sable (Hannibal Buress) and Jerry Pierce (Jeremy Renner). Comedy heavyweights like Helms and Buress help carry the comedy of the film.
Helms is best known for his role as Stu in “The Hangover” trilogy, and he keeps those comedy chops intact for “Tag.”
“Tag” first and foremost is a comedy and a good one at that. Slapstick can often become corny or over the top. To keep “Tag” grounded there are some actors here not known for their comedy. Jon Hamm and Jeremy Renner help keep “Tag” even-handed and from going over the top.
They carryinto “Tag” the weight and sincerity of their past roles and how the audience sees them, giving the pair an added advantage that works perfectly with a film like “Tag.” That advantage being, equality: equal seriousness and equal humor. Helms and Burress bring the majority of the humor, Renner and Hamm bring the seriousness.
The hard nosed demeanor of Renner and Hamm is perfect for a film about a game like tag. We all had that one friend who took it too seriously, was too competitive. Renner’s Jerry Pierce is that character. He is the friend who has never been tagged. Renner plays Pierce like his “Bourne Legacy” character was inserted into a game of tag, planning, scheming, and always one step ahead. The fact Jerry Pierce has never been tagged becomes the defining theme of the group.
When it is said that Jerry is going to retire from the tag game, the whole group goes all in to tag Jerry, setting “Tag” in motion. The camaraderie and the lessons each friend learns along the way, those lessons are often the best parts of “Tag.” It is easy to be funny for a moment; it is harder to be film for two hours.
“Tag” handles both nicely. The humor is on point and well timed, as are the serious overtones that playing a game of tag for 30 years can bring. Amid haze of life lessons and childlike comedic wonder stands a wonderfully enjoyable movie
“Tag” leads the viewer back to childhood and reminds them of the fun and charm a simple little game of tag had on them. All while it brings that forward to inevitable adulthood and reminds us all that sometimes all we are missing from life is a little childhood-style fun.
‘Tag” runs at you like Hoagie Malloy runs down the aisle of a wedding in the trailer for “Tag,” his hand outstretched as he is eager to tag someone, maybe anyone. Yet, every audience member who has already seen “Tag” was probably already tagged in one way or another. The only ones left are those who have not seen “Tag,” so tag you’re it.
IRATE SCORE: 3/5
Jason Guyer is an avid moviegoer and works in the Graphics Department at the Eagle Times. For questions or comments he can be emailed at [email protected]
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