Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
Tag is based on the true story of a group of five best friends who play the game during the month of May every year since they were kids. This isn’t any normal game of Tag that you see children play on the playground though. Hoagie (Ed Helms), Randy (Jake Johnson), Bob Callahan (Jon Hamm), Sable (Hannibal Buress) and Jerry (Jeremy Renner) – the latter who has never been ‘tagged’ before – play an outlandish version where they physically and even emotionally hurt one another to win. This year the untouchable Jeremy is getting married during the month of May. Therefore, leading his friends to believe he will be an easy target, however, they might be wrong.
The best part of the entire Film is watching the Ensemble look like they’re having the time of their lives. Helms is hilarious as the determined and anxious Hoagie. Johnson plays stoner Randy who’s highly suspicious but has a heart of gold with all he has. Buress is uproarious as the calm and subtle Sable. Hamm plays the highly confident business man Callahan effortlessly. And Renner is energetic as ever as the undefeatable Jerry. The real standout thought is Isla Fisher who portrays the intense, hilarious, competitive Anna, who is Hoagie’s wife. It’s Fisher who will have the audience in stitches. When the Cast comes together on screen, their chemistry ignites effortlessly.
You wouldn’t expect to have a lot of action in a Comedy Film about friends playing tag, however, that’s what you’ll find with this game of Tag. Director Jeff Tomsic takes this Wall Street Journal story and stories from the real guys themselves on which this is based, to the screen. He makes sure these scenes, especially when attempting to tag Jerry, are high-action and shot in slow motion. Tomsic and the writing team of Mark Steilen and Rob McKittrick create a Film that depicts an unbelievable true story that’s a whole lot of fun.
Overall, Tag is a funny and oddly enough heartwarming story of making a close friendship last way beyond your school days.
Warner Bros. Canada release TAG on Friday, June 15, 2017.
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