George Clooney, Ben Affleck Bring Big Heart To 'The Tender Bar'

LAKEVIEW (Dec. 3, 2021) — Good writers will understand what makes “The Tender Bar” great. Adapted from J.R. Moehringer’s memoir of the same, it’s the story of a person’s life, and life is, thank God, driven more by character than plot.

The latest film from director George Clooney is about growing up on Long Island, getting into an Ivy League school and figuring out how to put into words the feeling of growing up without a father.

But underneath the surface, where all the good stuff is, it’s about good people trying their best.

Academy Award-winning screenwriter William Monahan brings a realism and humor to the story, narrated sparingly by Ron Livingston as an older J.R. looking back on his younger life with wit and perspective.

But “The Tender Bar” is built on its performances, one of the greatest gifts actor-directors give the audience. Ben Affleck is exceedingly likable as good-natured and wise Uncle Charlie, who runs the family bar and shows J.R. how much learning happens outside the classroom. Lily Rabe is subtle as an overwhelmed single mother, and supporting characters played by Christopher Lloyd and Rhenzy Feliz fill in the gaps.

None of it would mean much without young and mixed-up J.R., played with real strength by Tye Sheridan. The main character’s confusion, intelligence and admiration for his uncle truly come through, and we sympathize with his young struggle to find his place at school, with women and in the workforce. The only place he feels truly at home is The Dickens Bar, a warm and inviting setting filled with colorful characters that form the backbone of this simple, enjoyable story.

As cliche as it sounds, “The Tender Bar” is a coming-of-age story about the making of a writer, and a man. And more importantly, it’s about how the people who are present in your life make much more of an impact than the ones who are absent. How the good people fill up the holes left behind by the bad.

At the very least, it’s a reminder that what you do for a living means a whole lot less than how you live.

Its holiday release feels timely - like we, too, are coming home to Long Island for Christmas and pulling up a stool. There is consistent charm and familiarity in “The Tender Bar.” Amid the chaos and uncertainty of life in 2021, Clooney takes us back to the 1980s, and puts us right at home.

“The Tender Bar” opens in Chicago on Dec. 22. It begins streaming Jan. 7 on Amazon Prime Video.