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The Intern (2015) Reviewed By Jay

United States, 14 August 2015

 

Jay´s Review

My mental image of an intern is an eager but underpaid young adult who invests time and energy into learning a new business. Well, in this PG-13 movie, the eager intern is 70 years old and has signed up for an innovative "Senior Intern" program.

Written and directed by Nancy Meyers, who is known for her audience-pleasing work ("It's Complicated" and "The Holiday"), this film takes our expectations, adds two Oscar winners, and turns those expectations upside down. In addition, everyone in this plot is NICE, no one is rude or demeaning. We see no betrayals (well, maybe one), there are no gunshots or vehicular mayhem and everyone is polite! 

We start with:

  • * Robert De Niro ("Silver Linings Playbook") is Ben, our eponymous hero, a 70-year-old widower, retired, and bored out of his skull. When we see his new work environment, we think he INVENTED the generation gap! He wears a suit, a tie and carries (gasp!) a clean handkerchief.
  • * Anne Hathaway ("Interstellar") Jules runs an on-line fashion business which she founded less than two years ago. She is young, overworked and inexperienced. Her devoted staff knows she needs a wingman, despite her objections. As we watch her in action, we can see why her staff is so loyal.
  • * Anders Holm ("Workaholics") is Matt, Jules' househusband. He volunteered to take over the domestic side of their marriage in order to support her success.
  • * JoJo Kushner is their precocious daughter, Paige. This little actress was either beautifully directed or has a nice future. (Just don't ask her to cry....)
  • * Andrew Rannells ("Glee") Cameron makes many of the personnel decisions for Jules because he pays close attention to EVERYTHING. She couldn't ask for a better chief assistant.
  • * Rene Russo ("Thor") A back rub from Fiona, the company masseuse, has an immediate (and obvious) effect on Ben. His fellow interns are mighty amused.

It's fun to watch the other interns come to Ben for help. He is practical, experienced and considerate. His history, both with a long-term marriage and a long-term executive position, makes him uniquely qualified to offer sound advice.

When the venture capitalists who funded the business tell Jules they want to hire a CEO to take over some of her duties, she feels threatened and humiliated. We see the impact on her personal life, as well as her professional one. Ben, on the other hand, sees the whole picture and offers his expertise to help her sort things out.

This 121-minute dramedy touches on many relatable issues: The price of success; the generation gap; senior sexuality; and the work that goes into a solid marriage. The biggest crisis is a bedbug. And NO, there is no hanky panky between our two lead characters! I just wanted to reassure you....

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