Bar Fight (2022) – Review/ Summary (with Spoilers)

“Bar Fight” is a simple comedy that, while not laugh-out-loud funny, is enjoyable for the most part.

Director(s)	Jim Mahoney
Screenplay By	Jim Mahoney
Based On	N/A
Date Released (AMC Plus)	11/11/2022
Genre(s)	Comedy, Romance
Duration	1 Hour 24 Minutes
Content Rating	Rated TV-MA
Noted Cast
Allen	Luka Jones
Nina	Melissa Fumero
Milan	Julian Gant
Chelsea	Rachel Bloom
Elena	Dot-Marie Jones
Dick	Vik Sahay
Autumn	Hope Lauren
Mason	Daniel Dorr
Tiffany	Caroline Harris
Jaz	Shontae Saldana

This content contains pertinent spoilers. Also, images and text in this post may contain affiliate links which, if a purchase is made from those sites, we may earn money or products from the company.

Film Summary

Originally, Allen and Nina’s breakup was amicable. It was five years, and they decided it just wouldn’t work out. They split their acquired things with ease and had little, to nothing, bad to say about the other. However, when it comes to sharing The Martinez, the bar where they were regulars, that is where the line is drawn. Thus leading to their best friends, Milan and Chelsea, as well as the bar staff, Dick, Mason, Jaz, Autumn, Tyler and Elena getting dragged into a bar fight to determine who stays and who gets 86’d.

Things To Note

Why Is “Bar Fight” Rated

• Dialog: Curing throughout, as well as gestures that imply cursing
• Violence: Nope
• Sexual Content: Implied Sex
• Miscellaneous: So much drinking

Question(s) Left Unanswered

1. So, what happened between Allen and that girl at the bar? She seemed interested.

Collected Quote(s)

Jealousy is the tribute mediocrity pays to the genius.
— Tiffany

Character Descriptions

Please Note: This character guide is not an exhaustive list of every cast member, and character descriptions may contain what can be considered spoilers.

Allen

Allen is a carpenter by trade who built a business from the ground up.

• You May Also Know The Actor From Being: Ryan in “Shrill” and Lewman in “Her”

Nina

Nina is an attorney who loves a good argument, especially when she knows she is right.

• You May Also Know The Actor From Being: Amy Santiago in “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” Eliza in “Blockbuster” and will be in “Velma.”

Milan

Milan is Allen’s close friend and business partner who is looking for them to expand.

• You May Also Know The Actor From Being: Carter in “Call Me Kat”

Chelsea

Chelsea is Nina’s best friend who, with two young children and a husband, wants to live vicariously through Nina so badly.

• You May Also Know The Actor From Being: Hannah in “Reboot,” Honora in “The School for Good and Evil” and Rebecca Bunch in “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend”

Elena

Elena is the cook who doesn’t speak much but has a notable presence.

• You May Also Know The Actor From Being: Cherry in “Bros,” Shannon and Sheldon Beiste in “Glee”

Dick

Dick is the bar owner/ manager who isn’t good with confrontation

• You May Also Know The Actor From Being: Tarquin in “Lodge 49,” Hero Torfan in “Captain Marvel,” Lester Patel in “Chuck”

Autumn

Autumn is Dick’s newest employee, from Florida, with dreams of being discovered for her performance abilities.

• You May Also Know The Actor From Being: Connie Dearborn in “The Republic of Sarah” and Mim Ocanomed in “The Forever Purge”

Mason

Mason is Dick’s bartender who is great with customers and appears to have all the skills to be Dick’s right hand and maybe have a bar of his own.

Tiffany

Tiffany is a woman Mason is chatting up at the bar.

• You May Also Know The Actor From Being: Valerie in “Bruh” and Bette Williams in “City on a Hill”

Jaz

Jaz is Dick’s other bartender, playing him like a fiddle since she is aggressive enough to scare him.

• You May Also Know The Actor From Being: Candice Lee in “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”

Review

Our Rating: Mixed (Divisive)

Highlights

With The Exception Of Chelsea, Everyone Was Likable And Notable

“Bar Fight” has the vibe of every comedy or sitcom sidekick now taking on a bigger role than ever before. Whether it is Nina and Allen as the leads, fighting it out for the bar, Milan, who is Allen’s business partner joining in while trying to revolutionize his business, or the bar staff. Each one gets to stand out in their own special way and have that thing they’re known for.

Elena, is big and scary, but overall seems nice, loyal, and would kill for those she likes. Dick is jittery and anxiety-ridden to the point of looking like he’ll lose it often, and Autumn is a slightly above-board stereotypical southern gal byways of Florida. As for Mason? He is the bartender who knows what everyone needs, yet no one is able to be what he needs. Then, with Jaz, she is the lesser version of Elena, who is probably as formidable but has more social skills.

It’s all very familiar, but with that comes a certain level of comfort while you watch.

On The Fence

Why Was Chelsea Such An Ass?

While competition can bring out the worse in many, Chelsea takes it to the next level. She is just an utter ass who, understandably, is trying to enjoy a night away from her husband and kids, so it doesn’t take much to rile her up. But the amount of drama she causes makes you wonder why is Anna her friend? Why was she written to damn near seem like the villain of “Bar Fight,” and what exactly about her is supposed to be funny?

It’s A Forgettable Movie

While “Bar Fight” has a lot of likable characters and a noted ass in Chelsea, it ultimately doesn’t provide anything to stand out. Yes, a bar fight over who gets to keep going to a specific bar isn’t a played-out concept. However, the jokes aren’t strong, nor the character development here.

Yes, there is more to Nina and Allen’s breakup than they care to admit at first, but from there on, the competitions are sort of like watching certain sports. It’s fun when you are playing, but watching it? It just isn’t the same. Then when you add in the drama, Milan and Chelsea throw in, as much as you are never given a reason to stop watching, you certainly aren’t given a reason to watch this again, even if just to spend some time with a friend.

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