'Tag' (2018) Review

Tag follows a group of friends who have been playing the same game tag for over 30 years. The five highly competitive friends annually travel across the country, willing to go to whatever lengths lengths necessary to tag one another so they can keep the game and their friendship alive. However, when the untaggable Jerry is looking to settle down and get married, the group see it as their golden opportunity to finally pin him down and tag him once and for all. 

Tag's premise is as about as zany as it gets, so it may surprise you to learn Tag is actually based on a true story (stick around through the beginning of the credits to see some footage of the real life friend group that inspired this film). Jeff Tomsic directs Tag as his first feature film while Mark Steilen wrote the screen story based on the Wall Street Journal article "It Takes Planning, Caution to Avoid Being It" in addition to penning the screenplay alongside Rob McKittrick. As a comedy first and foremost, Tag needed to deliver plenty of laughs to be deemed a worthwhile venture, and I feel it was successful on that front as I hardly stopped laughing once the over-the-top hilarity ensued. 

The extremes which these adult men are willing to go to in order to tag one another is funny in-of-itself, but Tomsic continually escalates the action to another level when things go full slo-mo and Jerry analyzes his friend's sloppy tactics with an inner monologue before thwarting their futile efforts to tag him. Just combine the fast reflexes of Neo, Spider-Man, and Guy Richie's interpretation of Sherlock Holmes and you've got Jeremy Renner's Jerry. Renner may have played a super-spy, government agent, and an Avenger elsewhere, but Jerry would probably wipe the floor in a brawl with Aaron Cross, William Brandt, and Hawkeye because the skillset of those characters doesn't come close to Jerry's. And that's precisely what made Tag such an enjoyable movie-going experience. It over-exaggerates the events to such an absurd degree that you'll have a difficult time keeping a straight face. The physical comedy is far-and-away what will leave you rolling over in laughter, but Steilen and McKittrick's script is full of some clever zingers as well. 

While the core concept of Tag is really ridiculous and ripe for comedy, I was glad to see the writers didn't forget to bestow Tag with a beating heart amidst all the insanity. At its core, Tag is about the value of friendship and how games ultimately bring friends closer together and I found that message ideal for such a crazy comedy. The cast's commitment to the absurdity makes a huge difference though, as the silly premise is certainly elevated by their willingness to let their inner child come out and play. Renner got so into it that he wound up breaking both his arms on set, wearing green sleeves for his arms to be digitally recreated with CGI in post-production. I kept my eyes open for any noticeably uncanny arms along the lines of Henry Cavill's mustache-less mouth in Justice League, but I didn't catch anything so I suppose that's a good thing? Regardless, these behind-the-scenes CG-stories just keep getting stranger and stranger. 

The ensemble functions as a tight-knit group and have convincing enough chemistry for you to believe these characters grew up together. Ed Helms, Jon Hamm, Jake Johnson, and Hannibal Buress each attribute the proper personality to their respective roles and bounce lines off one another quite well. Helms is the every man, Hamm plays the cool business tycoon, Johnson is down-on-his-luck stoner, and Buress is the calm, collected awkward one. Though even outside the bro group, Isla Fisher manages to be a highlight as Hoagie's hyper-competitive wife. 

However, it's fittingly Jeremy Renner who runs away as the Most Valuable Player in this game. Renner delights in playing the all-star player and he bestows Jerry with a mischievous attitude viewers will relish in watching! 

Despite the all ages appeal of the game its based on, it should be known that Tag is not a film for the family. While it doesn't push the envelope of the "R" rating, the film's still raunchy. Regardless of that, Tag is truly a riotous time at the theater and the funniest film I've seen all year! Now that you've read this review, you're officially "it." I humbly request you see the film and tag someone else with your opinion to keep the game going!... And no tag backs of course!

Film Assessment: A

'Baywatch' Review

Baywatch adapts the long-running seaside series following a group of Miami lifeguards who are in the midst of recruiting a few new members when Olympic gold medalist Matt Brody arrives, desperate to improve his public image by joining the squad after an incident at the last Summer Olympics. The team then must work together to unravel a criminal scheme if they're going to preserve their beach community. Baywatch is made in the same vein as the recent 21 Jump Street revival, they're both raunchy R-rated action-comedies based on an older cult television series and boast tremendous star power. However, Baywatch never quite clicks together the way 21/22 Jump Street did. 

I feel it's worth noting that director Seth Gordon is aware of the original series' absurdity and wears the ridiculousness as a badge of honor, slo-mo running included. The action set pieces aren't much to look at with some inadequate effects and egregious editing while the story's not particularly engaging either. What will really keep you invested for two hours are the quips and the buddy-dynamic between Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's stout seashore sergeant Mitch Buchannon and Zac Efron's arrogant Olympic swimmer Matt Brody.

Johnson's proven to be charismatic in just about everything, bolstering many projects on his shoulders, so it's no surprise that Mitch Buchannon would have the subsequent charm as well. All the while, Zac Efron showcases that he has the killer comedic timing and adequate acting chops required to butt heads with "The Rock" and play the conceited yet charming dunce. The two work together like thunder and lightning, helping Baywatch stay afloat thanks to their electric buddy-cop combo.

Filling out the ensemble, Jon Bass portrays a awkward geek Ronnie who's attracted to the insanely attractive CJ Parker, played by Former Sports Illustrated model Kelly Rohrbach. Both actors succumb to cliché characterization but their relationship stood out as a bright spot of comedic relief in Baywatch's lulls. Meanwhile, Alexandra Daddario and Ilfenesh Hadera are both serviceable in the capacity used. They both offer passable performances as Summer and Stephanie, but the script just doesn't give either much to work with in regards to a character arc or even humor.

Priyanka Chopra on the otherhand, plays Victoria Leeds as an over-the top Bond villain and it pays off. Chopra evokes a sinister, commanding demeanor about her that made her the ideal antagonist opposite these courageous lifeguards so she successfully pulls attention when onscreen. Hannibal Buress and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II are also worth noting for their sufficient supporting comedic bits but neither were imperative to the narrative.

As for the writing, Damian Shannon and Mark Swift rely a little too heavily on jokes about the male anatomy for laughs but the situational humor onscreen was occasionally a little more clever (although I have no idea whether it was improvised or not). Baywatch has got quite bit of self-referential humor up it's short sleeves so that's definitely something else the motley lifesaving crew have going for them. If you're hoping for references to the original series or any cameo appearances, you won't be disappointed but those cameoing are revealed by the opening credits so it's not exactly a surprise. Another aspect I enjoyed was the banter between Buchannon and Brody, which I almost wish had been more of the film's focus. Baywatch's story is scrambled but the one-liners keep Baywatch from sinking.

As we're hit by wave after wave of summer blockbusters, I aim to voice my recommendations for the weekend (I've done this from time-to-time but would like to make it a staple of my reviews this summer). This weekend there's a briny box office battle brewing between Baywatch and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales. While I haven't seen Dead Men Tell No Tales, Baywatch is without a doubt for the adult crowd while Pirates will certainly be more kid-friendly in comparison. Baywatch will sustain your raunchy action comedy needs so if that's what you want then it's worth a matinee showing. If neither of those are up your ally, there's two spectacular space offerings worth checking out in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and Alien: Covenant in case you've missed out on either of those intergalactic adventures. Regardless of what you choose, there's a variety to pick from at the multiplex right now.

In conclusion, Baywatch delivers on the outlandish premise with oodles of eye candy, sufficient slo-motion, and all the charisma "The Rock" can muster. Even when Baywatch wistfully wades into shallow waters, it still manages to find a riptide and shred some solid jokes. So long as you watch this movie with the mindset you're watching an outrageously over-the-top popcorn flick about lifeguarding, you should be able to hang ten and have a righteous time!

Film Assessment: C+