The Tender Bar

Prime Movie 🎥 Review: “The Tender Bar”

Rotten Tomatoes gave it a 52% the users an 72%. Rated: R with a run time of 1 hr and 46 mins.

Cast: Ben Affleck, Tye Sheridan, Daniel Ranieri, Ron Livingston, Lily Rabe, Christopher Lloyd and Max Martini.

Film Description: In 1972, 9-year-old J.R. Maguire moves into his grandfather's dilapidated house in Long Island, N.Y. Searching for a father figure, he falls under the unconventional tutelage of his uncle Charlie, a charismatic, self-educated bartender who introduces him to a handful of the bar's colorful regulars.

The Tender Bar is a 2021 American coming-of-age drama film directed by George Clooney from a screenplay by William Monahan. The film is an adaptation of the 2005 memoir of the same name by J. R. Moehringer, and recounts Moehringer's life growing up on Long Island. The film was released in a limited release on December 17, 2021, by Amazon Studios, following to the wide expansion on December 22, 2021, prior to streaming on Prime Video on January 7, 2022.

This coming-of-age film has something for everyone to relate to, especially for those with large families (cousins, uncles, aunts and grandparents etc…). Found myself comparing memories of my childhood-to-date with family and friends. The film has an allure to it that will keep your interest, drawing you in and making you curious throughout the film.

it has two parts cutting back and forth throughout. One part in the early 1970s when young JR and his mother deal with their situation by moving back to her parents home, while the other half in the 1980s when JR is at Yale, then later as he starts embarks on his job as a reporter.

It does a great job of timestamping the good old days with sets, clothing, cars and especially the music. It can unearth any “sometimers” you may have tucked way back in your mind!

The film is light in tone with a some laugh out loud moments and some very touching sentiment, particularly from Affleck…the uncle everyone wants - you'll likely walk away with a warm, cuddly smile on your face.

p. s. be sure and stay through the credits for the touching scenes at the end!