WATCH THE TRAILER HERE
First, the Recap:
It’s been said age is just a number. Regardless of the number of years lived, it’s more about how you choose to involve yourself in the life you’re given. Make the least or most of it, it’s your choices that can so often define you, especially in the face of loss and the impact it can have. At 70 years old and a widower, Ben Whittaker (Robert DeNiro) has most certainly found that things are not quite what he’d hoped for in his retirement years. Even though a daily routine keeps him occupied, it ultimately leaves him unfulfilled. This all changes, however, on a chance viewing of an advertisement from an online fashion company looking for senior interns.
Deciding he needs some invigoration, Ben applies and soon begins a new adventure as the direct assistant to the company’s founder, Jules Ostin (Anne Hathaway). Unexpectedly bonding, first with a fellow intern Davis (Zack Pearlman) plus co-workers Jason (Adam DeVine), Lewis (Jason Orley), and Becky (Christina Scherer), then with Jules, he finds himself becoming more and more involved in her daily grind. Ben begins to intercede in ways he never intended, both in her business dealings and then her personal life. Connecting with everyone from her husband Matt (Anders Holm) and daughter Paige (Jojo Kushner) to his own unforeseen involvement with the office masseuse Fiona (Rene Russo), Ben begins to share a lifetime of wisdom with Jules, who at first resists, then begins to reevaluate everything in life.
Next, my Mind:
This is friendship’s romantic comedy. Filled with moments of both lighthearted, whimsical humor and potent moments of straight-forward drama, writer/director Nancy Meyers is most certainly in her element, given past efforts that include “What Women Want” and “The Holiday”. This story brings the realities of everything from growing old, being overwhelmed by life but not truly facing it, and the power of bonding with someone in a completely surprising way into clear focus, and delivers its message via smart writing, down-to-earth characters, and a mature overall sensibility which aids greatly in the relatability factor here. Of course, there might be something to be mentioned about the fact that our two leads happen to have the names DeNiro and Hathaway.
Each an acting veteran in their own right, the two flow through this effort with enduring ease. DeNiro’s ability to do humor has had its ups (“Meet The Parents”) and downs (“Rocky & Bullwinkle”), but fortunately here, he is on his “up” side, infusing Ben with a completely believable sense of aged attitude, seasoned jocularity, and prudent intelligence. This combined with Hathaway’s young, hard working, and successful, yet world-weary and emotional, Jules makes for a wonderful mix of interaction between the two, as initially conflicting ideologies collide to form a deep, heart-felt companionship. With the addition of the excellent supporting cast and solid writing, “The Intern” brings about all the best aspects of a modern romcom but makes the focus of it not romantic love, but rather the potency of human connection.
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
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