Review of Tag (2018) by Omar L — 19 Jun 2018

Much has been made about what constitutes toxic masculinity. Among the symptoms is a societal aversion of men expressing affection for one another. None of that is here. Within the immature antics displayed in this decades-long game of tag is the explicit and unironic verbal and physical gestures of affection. The warmth expressed when these men say "I love you" and "It's good to see you" to each other *without any sarcastic qualification* cannot be understated.

Add to that the women in this movie: partners in every sense of the word. In many stories, the wife of a man who engages in silly activities is usually portrayed as a long-suffering anchor of maturity who rolls her eyes at the juvenile endeavors of her man. Those characters usually serve as just wallpaper, superficial signs that within this man-child is someone worth sticking around for. Here, the women are have much more depth in that they complement their partners. Spouses like these are always a treat to behold.

But above it all is the underlying message, and it's one that I personally relate to: fun and games aren't just fun and games. Fun and games not only bring people together, but they can keep people close, especially when you need it the most.