The Intern
3.5/4
Starring: Robert DeNiro, Anne Hathaway, Anders Holm, Rene Russo, Andrew Rannells, Zack Pearlman, Adam Devine, Jason Orley, Christina Scherer
Rated PG-13 for Some Suggestive Content and Brief Strong Language
If Frank Capra came back to life and made a movie about millenials, it would probably turn out to be something like "The Intern." This is a simple, sweet, feel-good tale about two likable people. It's the kind of movie that if you're feeling bad, you can pop in the DVD player and feel better about your life.
Jules (Hathaway) is an ambitious New Yorker who has built a clothing site called About the Fit from the ground up. It's a roaring success, which leaves her overworked and exhausted and forever playing catch-up. She's so busy that when the senior interns she asked for show up, she doesn't remember asking for them. One of them is Ben Whittaker (DeNiro), who is assigned to be Jules's assistant. She doesn't want him, but he's always there whenever she needs him. Ben turns out to be the ideal employee: modest, dependable, and always helpful. And that's just what Jules needs (even if she doesn't realize it).
Robert DeNiro and Anne Hathaway. Not exactly what comes to mind when you think of screen couplings of any kind. They're two great actors, but it's hard to imagine them clicking in any real way. I thought it would be a gimmick for marketing reasons. Two big names offered big paychecks for an easy sell. Turns out that I was wrong. The two have a lot of chemistry together in a buddy sort of way (romance is off the table, as she's married to Matt (Holm) and he's interested in Fiona (Russo), the office masseuse). But they click, and so we believe that Jules would depend on Ben and Ben would be happy to provide her all the support she needs. The supporting cast is fine (even Adam Devine manages not to be totally obnoxious), but this is their show.
Nancy Meyers does not have a sterling resume. She deals in vanilla movies like the dull "Something's Gotta Give" and the uneven "It's Complicated." Here she shows more maturity as a filmmaker, and greater skill. Making a movie this warm and positive isn't easy. But she does it. I was surprised at how caught up I got in it. The key is that everyone in this movie is so damn likable. Jules is testy, but has so much going on that she can't remember who works for her. She's also smart and a tireless worker. Ben knows that being dependable counts for more than anything, and that not trying to do everything at once is the key to success.
Not everything works. Some of the dialogue is too cute, and there's a heist scene that belongs in a different movie. But most of it does, and the chemistry between DeNiro and Hathaway really elevates the material. There's definitely something to be said for old-fashioned entertainment. "The Intern" proves it.
Starring: Robert DeNiro, Anne Hathaway, Anders Holm, Rene Russo, Andrew Rannells, Zack Pearlman, Adam Devine, Jason Orley, Christina Scherer
Rated PG-13 for Some Suggestive Content and Brief Strong Language
If Frank Capra came back to life and made a movie about millenials, it would probably turn out to be something like "The Intern." This is a simple, sweet, feel-good tale about two likable people. It's the kind of movie that if you're feeling bad, you can pop in the DVD player and feel better about your life.
Jules (Hathaway) is an ambitious New Yorker who has built a clothing site called About the Fit from the ground up. It's a roaring success, which leaves her overworked and exhausted and forever playing catch-up. She's so busy that when the senior interns she asked for show up, she doesn't remember asking for them. One of them is Ben Whittaker (DeNiro), who is assigned to be Jules's assistant. She doesn't want him, but he's always there whenever she needs him. Ben turns out to be the ideal employee: modest, dependable, and always helpful. And that's just what Jules needs (even if she doesn't realize it).
Robert DeNiro and Anne Hathaway. Not exactly what comes to mind when you think of screen couplings of any kind. They're two great actors, but it's hard to imagine them clicking in any real way. I thought it would be a gimmick for marketing reasons. Two big names offered big paychecks for an easy sell. Turns out that I was wrong. The two have a lot of chemistry together in a buddy sort of way (romance is off the table, as she's married to Matt (Holm) and he's interested in Fiona (Russo), the office masseuse). But they click, and so we believe that Jules would depend on Ben and Ben would be happy to provide her all the support she needs. The supporting cast is fine (even Adam Devine manages not to be totally obnoxious), but this is their show.
Nancy Meyers does not have a sterling resume. She deals in vanilla movies like the dull "Something's Gotta Give" and the uneven "It's Complicated." Here she shows more maturity as a filmmaker, and greater skill. Making a movie this warm and positive isn't easy. But she does it. I was surprised at how caught up I got in it. The key is that everyone in this movie is so damn likable. Jules is testy, but has so much going on that she can't remember who works for her. She's also smart and a tireless worker. Ben knows that being dependable counts for more than anything, and that not trying to do everything at once is the key to success.
Not everything works. Some of the dialogue is too cute, and there's a heist scene that belongs in a different movie. But most of it does, and the chemistry between DeNiro and Hathaway really elevates the material. There's definitely something to be said for old-fashioned entertainment. "The Intern" proves it.
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