Review of The Tender Bar (2021) by Migdalorguy — 22 Jan 2022

"The Tender Bar" is yet another retread coming of age memoir, but it's deftly handled enough by the cast that it still tugs at your heartstrings a bit. Which is enough for me. That said, there's just nothing all that compelling about the characters (though I've not read the book, so perhaps it does get short-changed in the film adaptation) that makes them and their story any more compelling.

If you're going to do verismo, at least choose interesting characters. These characters are all stereotypes. Stereotypes of people I grew up with, but stereotypes nonetheless.