^{Image: Jon Hamm’s Bob attempting to get the never tagged Gerry (Jeremy Renner) [Source: IMDB]}

★★★★☆

Based on the astonishing true story (I know unbelievable right) of a group of friends that every year in the month of May play the grandest game of Tag that you could imagine. With one of the group boasting a never been tagged in 30 years record and with an upcoming marriage set to see his retirement from the game. The rest of the group plan to finally tag him once and for all.

_{Director: Jeff Tomsic. Starring: Jeremy Renner, Ed Helms, Jon Hamm, Jake Johnson, Hannibal Buress, Isla Fisher [15]}

While the fact that this is based on a true story is absolutely incredible. Equally the concept for this as a movie is just as ludicrously refreshing. Tag is bubbling with a youthful charm, pure fun and is just a joy ride from the get-go.

To which the film wastes no time in bringing the exuberance to the surface. Jon Hamm, Jeremy Renner, Ed Helms, Jake Johnson, Hannibal Buress, Isla Fisher and all the main cast seems to be having a ton of fun and it just reflects on-screen. Usually a fun set might mean a bad movie because of a lack of focus but in this case, I believe it was very much-needed. The rambunctious nature of the film coming most of all from the knowledge that this was something that a group of friends did or still do. Which there is some much-needed proof of during the credits which are just as hilarious as the film. The comedic timing and dry humour mixing with R-rated comedy is an absolute treat and has some razor-sharp dialogue and delivery from all the main cast members. Sometimes making me laugh out loud at lines that aren’t necessarily there to garner a laugh but through the delivery, did none the less.

The film inspires a real yearning for childhood and its innocent carefree attitude and does make you wish that you and your childhood friends whether you kept in contact or not could still be that close. Which the film touches upon in the bittersweet aspect of nostalgia and knowing people, forming relationships that last for the good times and the bad. It really packs an emotional punch but sadly this was not an undercurrent through the movie and more of an afterthought to tie the film up. While the film did not need this throughout, it certainly would have added some more depth to the narrative and fill in the gaps of enjoyment during the middle act when the humour of the chase was starting to wear thin.

Instead, they used some playful techniques borrowed from the Sherlock Holmes films to have fun with the chasing scenes, and when thinking about what they would have been like without it – I’m glad they decided to add something to what could have easily been a boring spectacle of slow-motion shots and slapstick humour. Despite the lack of emotional depth and the main aspect losing its spirited appeal sooner than it should. Tag is still an absolutely hearty dose of pure fun with a splash of a nostalgic emotional twinge. Tag certainly is a fitting tribute and immortalisation of the real friends and their magnificent bonding competition of tag.