SummaryJ.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 the dilapi... Read More
Directed By:George Clooney
Written By:William Monahan, J.R. Moehringer
The Tender Bar
Metascore
Mixed or Average
53
User score
Mixed or Average
5.7
My Score
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Top Cast
Metascore
Mixed or Average
30% Positive
12 Reviews
12 Reviews
63% Mixed
25 Reviews
25 Reviews
8% Negative
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
Dec 22, 2021
80
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.
Oct 11, 2021
70
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
37% Positive
22 Ratings
22 Ratings
49% Mixed
29 Ratings
29 Ratings
14% Negative
8 Ratings
8 Ratings
Sep 22, 2024
10
Life isn't what it seems, people are smarter than you think and we are mpre tjan we know!
Jan 7, 2022
8
I like this movie the story is Heartwarming. Ben Affleck is great. Go see this movie.
Dec 17, 2021
60
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.
Jan 7, 2022
50
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.
Dec 14, 2021
50
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.
Dec 30, 2021
40
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.
Jan 7, 2022
37
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.
Jan 27, 2022
7
Saw this last night after work. This was a pleasant film with a great performance by Ben Affleck
Feb 28, 2022
6
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.
Feb 10, 2022
6
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.
Jan 22, 2022
3
bad
[ bad ] adjective, worse, worst;(Slang) bad·der, bad·dest for 36.
not good in any manner or degree.
Jan 9, 2022
3
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.
Production Company:
- Amazon Studios
- Big Indie Pictures
- Double Hope Films
- Grand Illusion Films
- Smokehouse Pictures
Release Date:Dec 17, 2021
Duration:1 h 46 m
Rating:R
Tagline:Publishing is heading towards memoir
Awards
Golden Globes, USA
• 1 Nomination
San Diego Film Critics Society Awards
• 2 Nominations
Casting Society (CSA)
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
