A boy (Jr.) seeks a replacement for his father, who disappeared shortly after his birth, and bonds with his uncle Charlie and the patrons at a bar in Long Island. Uncle Charlie works as a bartender there and knows all of the staff and regular patrons. He is a charismatic individual and all of his friends are eager to initiate Jr. into their rituals. Jr. listens closely to the stories of these men and relies on these stories for guidance on how to live.... (Full plot summary below)
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A boy (Jr.) seeks a replacement for his father, who disappeared shortly after his birth, and bonds with his uncle Charlie and the patrons at a bar in Long Island. Uncle Charlie works as a bartender there and knows all of the staff and regular patrons. He is a charismatic individual and all of his friends are eager to initiate Jr. into their rituals. Jr. listens closely to the stories of these men and relies on these stories for guidance on how to live.
Leave your thoughts about The Tender Bar.
| Washington PostMichael O'SullivanTender also is an apt description for the gently heartwarming tone of this appealingly low-key, faded Kodachrome coming-of-age story, capably directed by Clooney from a screenplay by William Monahan (“The Departed”). |
| Chicago Sun-TimesRichard RoeperThe Tender Bar is unabashedly sentimental — it’s one of those movies about writers told from the point of view of the writer that romanticizes everything about writing — but Clooney’s sure-handed direction and pitch-perfect attention to the 1970s and 1980s period-piece material, combined with the warm and relatable performances, make for classic comfort-movie formula. |
| Film ThreatAlan NgI 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. |
| Los Angeles TimesGary GoldsteinIt’s such an astute and warmhearted journey that it’s hard not to succumb to its underdog charms. |
| We Got This CoveredMartin CarrBen Affleck anchors this surprisingly complex drama with a career best performance, which sees director George Clooney turn his attention to the importance of friendships in life. |
| IGNTara BennettThe Tender Bar is a coming-of-age dramedy that sails on the backs of the exceptional ensemble cast. |
| Entertainment WeeklyJoshua RothkopfAffleck and Clooney make sense as collaborators; both of them became directors to get out of the way of their public images. Hopefully, the next time they decide to work together, they'll lean even further into the intimacies of a setting like the Dickens, a universe unto itself. |
| The Hollywood ReporterSheri LindenIf it struggles to find a rhythm, especially in the early going, there’s no question that it sends you off on a gentle high. |
| The New YorkerAnthony LaneThe gist of the critical response has been that The Tender Bar follows a well-worn path. Fair enough, but is that such a sin? (You should try the new Matrix movie. Now, that’s worn.) What counts is the firmness of the tread, and Clooney sets a careful but unloitering pace. |
| VarietyPeter DebrugeIt’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. |
