The Tender Bar

I really enjoyed this one. It has a phenomenal soundtrack, with some heartwarming moments and great performance by Ben Affleck as Uncle Charlie - the Uncle we all wish we had.

In some ways, it reminded me of Hillbilly Elegy. It's a solid coming-of-age film with a refreshing softness. The atmosphere of the film is infectious - we could all do with some of those bar characters in our corner.

Ron Livingston was well suited as narrator. It was also great to see Christopher Lloyd as the farting Grandpa - he's on a roll these days. I also thought Tye Sheridan held his own alongside the likes of Affleck. Lily Rabe really excelled at being JR's loving mother who just wants him to do well in life.

There are some laughs, some emotional moments, and a few thought-provoking lines. It's not short on inspiration for aspiring writers either. It's about life. It's about the people who help shape us, and it's about the importance of a writer finding their voice.

We saw this at an Amazon premiere at our local movie theater. I enjoyed the story of JR growing up and learning about becoming a man from his Uncle Charlie, since his own father is absent. JR navigates his way through life and ends up attending Yale and getting a job as a writer. Charlie teaches him to respect women, fosters his love of reading and writing, teaches him to be responsible with money, and other lessons.

I wish there was a bit more character development of a few of the bar patrons - just a little one-on-one interaction with each of them with JR would have added to the story.

Overall, a nice story told well, and worth watching.

There is Uncle Charlie, bartender ( Ben Affleck) in a bar named "The Dickens" inspired by Charles Dickens and instead of liquor bottles in the cabinet he has a collection of books. Something more unusual is that he doles out serious advice to young 10 year old boy JR ( Daniel Ranieri) on how an ideal man should behave. This movie is based on the memoirs of famous journalist JR Moehringer, and chronicles his growth from a boy to a young man studying at Yale and later aspiring to be a writer.

JR has gone through a troubled childhood without a father, has been through a turbulent manhood ( getting dumped 9 times, getting rejected for a job) but learns a lot from Uncle Charlie constantly. ( Later in life Uncle Charlie tells him to select philosophy as a subject since there are no right answers in this subject). JR's mom however has been supporting him throughout and this keeps him going as he navigates his ups and downs. A heart-warming scene has young JR attending a " Breakfast with dad" session in school with his grandpa standing in for his missing father.

A warm, sentimental film embellished with some good acting by Ben Affleck who carries the film well and gives it class. Young Daniel Ranieri is lovable and plays his role like a seasoned professional. Credit to the handsome hunk behind the camera, that is director George Clooney who has done a competent job. The movie has a foot tapping soundtrack of, believe it or not, around thirty numbers which add to the entertainment value of the movie. The movie ends on a positive note for JR as he says that unlike the selection process to become a lawyer, one has only to have self belief and can become a writer when one is ready.

It's 1973. JR (Daniel Ranieri) and his mother (Lily Rabe) have to move back in with her father (Christopher Lloyd). It's a house full of extended family including Uncle Charlie (Ben Affleck). JR doesn't know his long-absent irresponsible father and Uncle Charlie who owns a local bar becomes his father figure. As an older kid, JR (Tye Sheridan) fulfills his mother's wish for higher education.

There are interesting moments of humanity and humor within an extended non-dramatic coming-of-age story. This is really a series of vignettes of his early life. Director George Clooney is a good workman but this story needs something extra. As it stands, it probably would work better as TV show. I kept thinking the kid needs some friends. Of course, the central theme is the father figure in a young boy's life. The movie needs to concentrate harder on that. Quite frankly, the movie needs more Ben Affleck. He has to sell this. He can't be a side character. I'm not sure if Clooney has the vision as a director.

This is an Amazon original movie, my wife and I watched it at home streaming on Amazon. It is set mostly on Long Island and in Connecticut but was filmed in various Massachusetts locations.

The movie is really two parts and they cut back and forth. The older part is in the early 1970s when young JR and his mother deal with their situation by moving back to her parents' home, dad is a radio voice and mostly absent. JR's uncle (Affleck in a good role) operates his own bar and gives young JR some life advice. Mom wants JR to go to Yale and become a lawyer, but JR decides he wants to be a writer.

The other half is in the 1980s when JR is at Yale, then later when he starts to get jobs as a reporter. Woven in are his frustrations with the girl he falls for but she never seems to be able to choose just him.

All in all a good and interesting movie ultimately about JR's coming of age.