Director: Nancy Meyers
Written by: Nancy Meyers
Starring: Anne Hathaway, Robert de Niro, Rene Russo
Nancy Meyers has been working within her specific niche in the Hollywood movie market for quite a few years now and while similar themes continue to weave through her work, and could be seen as repetitive, she manages to keep it fresh every time. Her previous titles include The Holiday, Something’s Gotta Give, It’s Complicated and she wrote the screenplay for 1991’s Father of the Bride. Her new movie, The Intern, stars Anne Hathaway and Robert De Niro and brings forth the charm and feel-good factor again.
De Niro plays 70-year-old Ben Whittaker, a widower who’s introduced to us through the video he’s made for a job application. After finding a ‘Senior Internship’ flyer in his local neighbourhood of Brooklyn, we quickly learn that he loves to explore, is up for learning something new and wants to be part of a Start-Up online fashion company and because the company is growing, they’re looking for people of all kinds to add to the experience. After going through various interviews with employees, that includes the question ‘Where do you see yourself in 10 years?’ , they offer him the job and the chance to be a PA for Hathaway’s Jules Ostin, the founder of the company.
Ostin is sold as kind but a workaholic with a tough edge, which means a lot of people come out either badly or stressed once they’re paired up with her. Hathaway easily covers the hard-working side of things but in this environment she doesn’t seem mean, just dedicated and committed to her job. De Niro, on the other hand, is ridiculously easy-going and so although Jules and Ben initially conflict, as the narrative grows they’ll merge into each other’s worlds.
Although Meyers’ film-making history suggests ‘romantic’ relationship, The Intern is about friendship and how they develop even in unexpected ways. There is a little romance involved but it isn’t between our leads, because De Niro’s character connects with Rene Russo’s in-house masseuse, in a comfortable and cool manner. On the flip-side, we also focus on Jules strained relationship with her house-husband, or Stay At Home Dad, Matt (Anders Holm). They’re suffering complications arising around work life and home life, which eventually leads to him having an affair. This was my only disappointment with the film and not because these things don’t occur, I just didn’t personally agree with the outcome.
Overall though, and as you’d expect, The Intern is a confident and contented watch and does offer that classic rom-com style vibe. It also holds close a warm heart as Ben starts to help Jules in ways she didn’t expect and adds in some touching connections within her business to his past. We’re also introduced to a scattering of up and coming young comic actors with the likes of Christina Scherer, Adam DeVine and Zack Pearlman who particularly stand out.
The Intern is a warm, comfortable bed robe of a tale that not only reminds us that the older generation can be just as active as anyone but also having experience can be just as good, if not better, than trying to do it all yourself.
The Intern is out to own on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital Download now.
