The Tender Bar (2021)

Set in Long Island in the 1970s, a divorcee (Lily Rabe) with a young son (Daniel Ranieri) returns to live at home with her parents (Christopher Lloyd, Sondra James) and brother (Ben Affleck). The boy (now played by Ron Livingston) grows up with ambitions to be a writer and goes to Yale. Based on the memoir by J.R. Moehringer and directed by George Clooney. Yet another "coming of age" story. Although based on a memoir, it still comes off as a cliched memory piece about growing up in a dysfunctional albeit quirky family. If it had been made in the 1960s, no doubt the main protagonist would have been played by Brandon De Wile, who specialized in parts like this in movies like HUD and ALL FALL DOWN. It's an uneven film with some fine acting but Livingston's character is a bit of clueless dick through out most of the movie. How many times does he have to be kicked in the teeth by his biological father (Tye Sheridan) or girl crush (Briana Middleton) before he gets it? I didn't hate it but I knew where it was going every step of the way and I was hoping for some surprises. With Max Casella and Michael Braun.