X
- 2021
- R
- Amazon Studios
- 1 h 46 m
- 2021
- R
- Amazon Studios
- 1 h 46 m
Summary J.R. (Tye Sheridan) is a fatherless boy growing up in the glow of a bar where the bartender, his Uncle Charlie (Ben Affleck), is the sharpest and most colorful of an assortment of quirky and demonstrative father figures. As the boy’s determined mother (Lily Rabe) struggles to provide her son with opportunities denied to her — and leave t...
Directed By: George Clooney
Written By: William Monahan, J.R. Moehringer
- 2021
- R
- Amazon Studios
- 1 h 46 m
- 2021
- R
- Amazon Studios
- 1 h 46 m
The Tender Bar
53
5.7
Summary J.R. (Tye Sheridan) is a fatherless boy growing up in the glow of a bar where the bartender, his Uncle Charlie (Ben Affleck), is the sharpest and most colorful of an assortment of quirky and demonstrative father figures. As the boy’s determined mother (Lily Rabe) struggles to provide her son with opportunities denied to her — and leave t...
Directed By: George Clooney
Written By: William Monahan, J.R. Moehringer
Top Cast
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 40 Critic Reviews
53
30% Positive
12 Reviews
12 Reviews
63% Mixed
25 Reviews
25 Reviews
8% Negative
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 40 Critic Reviews
53
30% Positive
12 Reviews
12 Reviews
63% Mixed
25 Reviews
25 Reviews
8% Negative
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
I liked The Tender Bar for its simple story and fantastic performances. But, honestly, it works best as a straight-to-streaming title, as it hits familiar beats and feels small in scope. Clooney has concocted cinematic comfort food.
It’s not easy being Ben Affleck, by which I mean, there aren’t many actors who seem so comfortably themselves on-screen, and now that Affleck has reached middle age, he’s capable of bringing fresh depth to his performances.
User Score
Mixed or Average
Based on 52 User Ratings
5.7
37% Positive
19 Ratings
19 Ratings
50% Mixed
26 Ratings
26 Ratings
13% Negative
7 Ratings
7 Ratings
User Score
Mixed or Average
Based on 52 User Ratings
5.7
37% Positive
19 Ratings
19 Ratings
50% Mixed
26 Ratings
26 Ratings
13% Negative
7 Ratings
7 Ratings
I like this movie the story is Heartwarming. Ben Affleck is great. Go see this movie.
Report
The Tender Bar is generally a sweet, affectionate film, it deflates whenever J.R. isn’t in Manhasset—because that means there’s no Ben Affleck.
There’s nothing fresh or surprising about a boy coming of age with the help of his bartender uncle (Ben Affleck reminding us what a terrific actor he can be), but director George Clooney’s affection for the characters serves up a winning blend of laughs and tears.
As undemanding and shambolic as it is, The Tender Bar takes you in with warm afterglow and some winning, “I’d like to have a drink with that guy” moments.
The occasional sudden zoom or quick comedic cutaway make for brief moments of respite, and it’s hard to truly hate a film aiming for such kindly emotional resonance. But whatever slight wisdoms or truths are to be found here are squandered in a big nothing of a story trying to render them meaningful.
As mired as it is in identity confusion, cheeseball sentimentality and jaundiced camera filters, The Tender Bar could’ve been something if it had a purpose.
"The Tender Bar" is yet another retread coming of age memoir, but it's deftly handled enough by the cast that it still tugs at your heartstrings a bit. Which is enough for me. That said, there's just nothing all that compelling about the characters (though I've not read the book, so perhaps it does get short-changed in the film adaptation) that makes them and their story any more compelling. If you're going to do verismo, at least choose interesting characters. These characters are all stereotypes. Stereotypes of people I grew up with, but stereotypes nonetheless.
Report
The Tender Bar has a messy script and just isn’t a story with enough meat to create any depth or momentum… but I still liked it? I grew to like this family and their dynamics, with Ben Affleck being the definite standout. Clooney plays it safe with the direction but it serves the story well enough.
Report
A fun light hearted first half with a nice 70's vibe and soundtrack but after that the movie drags all the way and doesn't have much of a point story wise.
Report
bad
[ bad ]
adjective, worse, worst;(Slang) bad·der, bad·dest for 36.
not good in any manner or degree.
Report
Generally good performances can't save this aimless, plotless, and boring movie. The casting is mystifying too because the main character doesn't remotely resemble himself at different ages, and makes one drastic change in ethnicity--and I don't think this was intentional. I felt like I'd see all this before, as if this movie were cobbled together from a dozen others.
Report
Awards
Golden Globes, USA
• 1 Nomination
San Diego Film Critics Society Awards
• 2 Nominations
Casting Society of America, USA
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
