The Tender Bar

— This is a tender, coming-of-age film that may not shake new ground thematically, but is still a joy to watch. A mother who can’t seem to catch a break, returns to her father’s house for a new start, bringing with her her young son, JR, whose father left long ago. JR likes the move and he likes being around his uncle Charlie who also lives there. Charlie, played by Ben Affleck, becomes something of a surrogate father, helping JR in his journey over a period of maybe 15 years, overcoming hardships, accepting realities, and finding direction. It a warm and loving memoir, with the memories laid out for viewers to piece together to get a sense of JR’s world. I like low-key movies that don’t necessarily march toward a defining moment but evolve slowly and quietly—I liked this film. The only distraction was the excellent choice of music which, for someone my age, was impossible not to hum along with during the film. [Netflix streaming.]

---

[2021. 106 minutes. Directed by George Clooney. Starring Ben Affleck, Tye Sheridan, Lily Rabe, and Christopher Lloyd.]
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-tender-bar-movie-review-2021