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Tag
The Bible suggests that when we cross the threshold to adulthood, we should put away childish things. The quintet of fortysomething men, who reunite every year in Jeff Tomsic's potty-mouthed buddy comedy, blow a raspberry at the idea of responsible behaviour now they have grown up. This merry band of suited professionals, wastrels and dreamers stave off the spectre of middle-age by channelling the giddy excitement they felt when they first met as nine-year-olds. "We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing," sermonises Ed Helms's ringleader. The men's chosen method of bonding is to devote one month every year - May - to the playground game of tag, travelling between states and donning disguises if necessary to touch an unsuspecting victim. The last person to be tagged as the bell tolls midnight on May 31 is deemed the loser until the following year when the hijinks begin again. Tomsic's filthy-minded film is inspired by the true story of 10 friends from Spokane, Washington who have been playing tag for over 20 years. Scriptwriters Rob McKittrick and Mark Steilen embellish this offbeat human-interest story with laddish humour, outlandish action sequences and romantic one-upmanship. Aside from a horribly misjudged gag about miscarriage, which is laboured to the point that toes curl, Tag complements bountiful laughs with heart-warming sentiment. Hogan Malloy (Helms), last year's loser, secures a job as janitor in a plush New York building in order to tag his good friend, Bob Callahan (Jon Hamm), during an interview with Wall Street Journal reporter Rebecca Cosby (Annabelle Wallis). Scenting a front page exclusive, Rebecca accompanies Hoagie and Bob as they round up the other players, Randy Cilliano (Jake Johnson) and Kevin Sable (Hannibal Buress). The group flies home to gate-crash the May 31 nuptials of Jerry Pierce (Jeremy Renner), who has never been tagged in the 35 years that the game has been running. Hoagie's ultra-competitive wife Anna (Isla Fisher) joins the hunt while Bob and Randy are distracted by mutual childhood crush, Cheryl (Rachida Jones). "Synchronise your watches," Hoagie orders his beleaguered troops. "I don't know how to do that," replies Bob. "I don't have a watch," counters Chilli. "Time is a construct," deadpans Kevin. Tag sups from the same tankard of bad taste comedy as The Hangover, revelling in the deteriorating politeness of the group as the May deadline looms. Helms and Renner are hysterical during one fight sequence in a shopping mall while Fisher seizes her scenes by the nether portions and squeezes hard with pent-up rage. Some gags fall flat but the script boasts a decent hit rate and the film's heart is in the right place, bathing the cast in a warm, fuzzy emotional glow in poignant closing scenes.
