Could Amazon Studios have a winner on its hands with “The Tender Bar”? The film is an adaptation of a 2005 best-selling memoir by J. R. Moehringer. It’s a coming-of-age drama directed by George Clooney and written by Oscar-winner William Monahan (“The Departed”). Adding to its star power is the cast led by Ben Affleck and Tye Sheridan. The first trailer dropped over the weekend, and while the sentimentality is pretty heavy, I admit to being drawn in by the sweetness of what we see.

The film tells the story of young J. R. Moehringer, a wide-eyed ambitious kid in Long Island whose father ran out on him. So now he finds much-needed father figure in his bartender uncle Charlie (Affleck). The younger J.R. is played by Daniel Ranieri while the college bound J.R. is played by Sheridan. The movie looks to follow J.R.’s journey while putting a heavy emphasis on the people who helped shape his life. It’s Clooney’s second directorial effort for a streaming platform in two years following 2021’s terrific “The Midnight Sky”. I’m hoping this one turns out as good.

“The Tender Bar” is getting a limited theater release December 17th and will stream on Amazon Prime beginning January 7th. Check out the trailer below and let me know if you’ll be seeing it or taking a pass.