Review of Tag (2018) by Thomas D — 08 Jul 2018

In retrospect, Tag was definitely poorly marketed and a clear missed opportunity to make this film out to be something its not. Tag is a drama disguised as a comedy, and I think that's the way people should go into it thinking. Even amidst its unbelievable true source material, there is a great deal of heart that Tag delves into. Yes, this a 90 minute film based around a group of friends that plays tag every year for the entire month of May, but there's so much more beneath the surface that gets explored here. And I think most people are not critiquing the movie based on that, but rather, the failed comedic attempts in Tag. And admittedly, the movie isn't all that funny. There are some standout scenes and performances, particularly anything involving Jeremy Renner, Hannibal Buress, Leslie Bibb, and Isla Fisher. They were very funny, but the film succeeds far more in its subtle attempts at drama than it does in its blatant attempts at making you laugh. But I really enjoy the types of films that move me in a personal way. Tag does that due to my nostalgia for my childhood playing outside with my neighborhood friends. The idea of having something like that end for any number of reasons always saddened me. And the reality is, those things don't live on forever. So when Tag explores those themes it really hit home. Maybe that wasn't exactly the filmmakers intentions, but that's the way I interpreted the film. Sometimes that's all you need to connect to a film.

8.5/10.