The Tender Bar movie review: The resurgence of Ben Affleck continues

When I walked into the screening of The Tender Bar, I didn’t know what to expect from the movie. But I was curious to see what was ahead because the plot and cast are intriguing.

Ben Affleck is back and it is a beautiful sight to see. From The Way Back to The Last Duel and even Zack Snyder’s Justice League, Affleck has been on a roll as of late and he steamrolls ahead with another good performance in The Tender Bar.

Affleck plays Uncle Charlie to JR (Tye Sheridan). We meet JR at a young age with a single mom (Lily Rabe) and a father who is never around. So in comes the wise and full of wisdom Uncle Charlie. Charlie is the type of guy who is a lot smarter than what people give him credit for. He isn’t “book smart,” but everything he knows, he taught himself. Throughout the film, Charlie gives JR some “Charlism’s,” I’ll call it. Charlie is JR’s father figure. Affleck fully engrosses himself in this role, and it may be one of his best to date.

The Tender Bar’s vibe is a real standout

One of the other standout things about the film was the vibe. The movie is set in the 70s/80s timeframe and the entire team, from production to sound/music to costumes, you were thrust into this era, which made the whole vibe of the film fit perfectly.

The movie isn’t trying to reinvent any sort of wheel. JR is a kid fighting off his demons. He struggles to write, find love, and get over heartbreak. JR works to identify with who he is meant to be. The writing makes him relatable, and for me, that is why the movie worked so well. It isn’t one of the best movies you will watch. However, it is one of the easiest and enjoyable watches of the year.

The Tender Bar comes out in theaters on Dec. 22, 2021, and to Amazon Prime Video on Jan. 7, 2022.