The Intern

Experience never gets old, but formulaic dramedies do. Nancy Meyers (Father of the Bride, Something’s Gotta Give, The Holiday), one of the most darling writer/directors of unorthodox (old people) romantic comedies today, draws from so many stereotypes that it’s difficult to keep up at times. Of course, that’s the draw, isn’t it? Stereotypes are transparent and relatable. She creates two main characters with polar opposite personalities, yet they somehow need each other and learn valuable life lessons in the process. It’s cathartic therapy for the cinematic mind.

Seventy year old Ben Whitaker (Robert De Niro) finds himself bored with retirement, so he applies for an internship at About the Fit, an Internet retailer run by the onerous and often intolerable Jules Ostin (Anne Hathaway). Just ask her staff of over two hundred, they are all frightened by her tactics. To call her a fickle micro-manager would be an understatement. Ben begins to ingratiate himself to the company, particularly Jules, and a sort of father figure relationship blossoms. Meanwhile, the cliché world of an ultra-successful Internet Start-up Company swirls around Jules and leads us to a crossroads of old school versus progressive, and could you guess which one will win?

Finding itself somewhere between a lowbrow romantic comedy and “As Good as it Gets”, “The Intern” never gains traction in any particular area of the genre. Or any genre for that matter. To me it simply maintained status quo from start to finish. A drama trying to be funny, relying on two outstanding actors to keep it alive.

Robert De Niro does a fantastic job in a truly understated role as Ben. I was hoping for some depth to his character (Jack Nicholson would have been nice) but it never materialized. There was nothing wrong with his performance, but he just sort of coasted through the whole film with his two looks; “I am concerned” and “I understand, I’m older and wiser than you, but I don’t want to make you feel badly”. There was even a moment of opportunity for a big breakout speech that could have made the film (two actually), but it was truncated by the supposedly more desirable bonding scenes that are a signet of any unlikely pairing film. I was rooting for De Niro to knock this one out of the park, but he safely opted for a base hit instead. Ben is a severely likable man, almost too likable to be taken seriously. A great character needs a flaw, and there just isn’t one to endear or connect him to the audience. It’s a lost opportunity, and I blame Nancy Meyers, not Bobby D.

Anne Hathaway is the real centerpiece of the film. Her acting leaves nothing to be desired, but the character is just too predictable. Strong and vulnerable, vicious and kind, brazen and self-conscious. You get the point. Hathaway has the look of a younger Julia Roberts, a perfect actress for romantic comedies in today’s day and age, but she just hasn’t found the right material yet.
Supporting players Anders Holm and Adam Devine made me feel like I was watching an episode of “Workaholics” and I never really bought Holm’s character as Hathaway’s husband in the least. That was an area that could have used some serious second guessing by the casting director, despite how much I typically like Holm and find his humor entertaining.

Essentially, this is what I would call a nice try. Good enough for low expectations, with nothing surprising or fresh. The actors are top notch, but the story leaves you wanting a bit more. That said, this is a romantic comedy at its core, but it’s missing the romance. Therefore, it is missing a crucial ingredient in what could have made it a successful film. 6/10.