'The Tender Bar' Review: Affleck Shines In Charming, But Uneven Adaptation
George Clooney’s adaptation of J.R. Moehringer’s memoir aims to charm audiences with a talented cast and beloved source material, hitting the bullseye far more often than its mixed reviews have given it credit for.
‘The Tender Bar’ not only has source material ripe for the silver screen, but also has tremendous talent in front of and behind the camera. Clooney, though a bit hit-or-miss as a director, has an assured hand behind the camera and knack for getting great performances out of his cast. Films like ‘Good Night, and Good Luck.’ and ‘The Ides of March’ show this on full display and to great effect. The Tender Bar is no exception, especially when Clooney is working with a cast that includes the likes of Ben Affleck, Tye Sheridan, Lily Rabe, and Christopher Lloyd.
With a talented cast like this firing on all cylinders, it may be difficult for some to pick a standout performance, but without a doubt, Affleck walks away with this coming-of-age story with ease and charm to spare. The actor has been turning in some of his best performances over the past several years, especially 2020’s ‘The Way Back’, which was a career best performance for Affleck. As Uncle Charlie, Affleck oozes charisma and warmth as he essentially becomes the father our main character J.R. always wanted. He has terrific chemistry with Sheridan and his younger counterpart, newcomer Daniel Ranieri, who is also fantastic in the film. When Affleck is on screen, the film soars and breezes by, but when he’s not, his presence is certainly missed.
As for the film itself, it does a fine job of balancing the humor with the drama and heart. Clooney clearly has a firm grasp on the tone as it never veers too heavily into one territory compared to another. Aside from a handful of creative choices behind the camera, Clooney puts his characters first and lets the story and performances do the heavily lifting, a very smart move. The scenes between J.R. and his Uncle Charlie, in addition to those involving him and his real father named Johnny, played to perfection by the underrated Max Martini, are where this film shines. The juxtaposition between J.R.’s relationship with his father and uncle is considerable, his uncle encouraging him, supporting him, and propelling him forward, while his father consistently aims to drag him backward toward misery. These scenes help the audience understand why J.R.’s journey toward success and growth is arduous at the very least, painting a full picture of the man he was, is, and aims to be.
However, the film is far from perfect. There are aspects of the story that simply feel extraneous or unnecessary, especially J.R.’s tumultuous relationship with a girl named Sidney, played by Briana Middleton. The scenes between them leave much to be desired and often hinder the pacing of the film. Also, there are some editing choices that simply feel misguided. The film gravitates between the past and the present awkwardly, doing so too briefly or at inopportune times that makes the story feel hastily put together. Lastly, the last third of the film is a significant step down in terms of quality, feeling drawn out and ultimately bland compared to the rest of the story. In its final half hour, it clearly aims to head into some intriguing, darker territory, but never fully commits, which was incredibly disappointing.
Despite its shortcomings, The Tender Bar is still an entertaining and ultimately heartwarming film about letting go of those who don’t deserve your time or love and embracing those who are worthy of it. With stellar performances across the board and subtle, balanced work behind the camera, this dramedy succeeds more than it fails. It may be uneven, but if you’re looking for a feel-good film in these cold winter months, streaming The Tender Bar will give you a nice, warm hug, even if that hug may also smell like beer and whiskey.