Tag

WHAT IT'S ABOUT:

For one month every year, five highly competitive friends hit the ground running in a no-holds-barred game of tag they’ve been playing since the first grade—risking their necks, their jobs and their relationships to take each other down with the battle cry: “You’re It!”
This year, the game coincides with the wedding of their only undefeated player, which should finally make him an easy target. But he knows they're coming... and he’s ready. 

WHAT WE THOUGHT:

For 28 years now a group of friends have been playing a game of tag. For one month every year they have to hunt each other down and continue the game – the last man standing is the loser for a whole year until the game restarts again. 

They go through great lengths to stalk each other and to avoid being “It”. This includes going undercover and even travelling abroad. (Read more here) 

Nothing is out of bounds. Not even a funeral. 

The story caught the attention of Wall Street Journal writer Russell Adams who wrote an article on the unique game between the friends that has been going on for years. Of course it wasn’t long before Hollywood came knocking.

Now Ed Helms (Hogan "Hoagie" Malloy), Jake Johnson (Randy "Chilli" Cilliano), Hannibal Buress (Kevin Sable), Jon Hamm (Bob Callahan), and Jeremy Renner (Jerry Pierce) are stepping into the roles of the group of men that refuse to give up on having fun. 

With a Hollywood script comes a few added embellishments for entertainment purposes – but for the most part they stayed true to the absurd and fun real-life story. The cast is also more diverse in gender and race than the original players, ensuring that it isn’t just a white men only flick.

I wasn’t sure if a game of tag would translate well on the big screen. Would they be able to squeeze an hour and 45 minutes out of the story without having to go to the extremes? In my opinion it worked. Tag is a fun and uncomplicated comedy with a lot of heart and soul.

It’s an energetic look at friendship and an important reminder that we shouldn’t be taking life too seriously. 

We’re confronted with a lot of negativity, anger and grim news on a daily basis – especially on social media. The film was a welcome reminder that it’s okay to step away from that for a bit to embrace our inner child and just have some fun.

As the saying goes: “We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” 

This is a great flick to go watch with your friends if you just want to get away from all the bad stuff for a bit.