“Tag” earns its laughs through character and story

Often, summer comedies are over-the-top farces that strive to be little else than popcorn entertainment. There’s nothing wrong with that, but when one like “Tag” comes along that attempts more, it stands out. The story of five friends who have played the children’s game of Tag together for over 30 years is yet another comedy about man-children who need to grow up. Yet here, the characters are less cartoonish, the relationships dig deeper, and three strong women characters add complexity to the story. “Tag” is an ensemble comedy too, often putting eight key players in a scene together and ensuring they all shine. It’s very funny, but serious about trying harder too.