The Village Voice is right: Bernard has an "inherent decency"

I just viewed the film twice, looking for that "decency" and saw nothing redeeming about the Jeff Daniels character. He was a selfish, cheap, opportunistic, narcissist with a strange lack of empathy or compassion for others (even his family), and all of his actions and dialogue during the film supported this. He was at least consistent, and in the end, got what he deserved.

The things that you cited, can still be attributed to selfish, self-serving motives. I think he DID genuinely want his kids, but mainly to reduce child support which he probably would have had to pay. He liked their company for his own selfish amusement and reducing his own loneliness (the movie outing, the adoration/hero worship, the domination in both games and intellect as if adult vs. a child is a fair competition). But otherwise, he completely forgets about his younger son. His broad intellectual pronouncements are basic canned opinions probably learned from his East Coast liberal arts professors, and he doesn't expect or want anyone to challenge him on it. Those that don't appreciate the same opinions or appreciate his high media are dismissed as "Philistines", implying his supposed superiority.

The last act shows the main character (the subject of this autobiographical story) finally seeing his father for the selfish fake failure as a decent human being that he is (sleeping with his student, not really caring about anyone else's feelings or needs, again asserting his adult guardian power "bring me a pillow", "you're a minor" selfishly, and still blaming everyone else but himself for his problems.

His cheapness was perhaps his only funny (charming) characteristic. And I can wee why even that would become annoying.