Nancy Meyers knows how to make a dramedy. They are the bulk of her directing portfolio, so it should be no surprise that The Intern does its best to bring the laughter and the tears, and if that is what you are in the mood for, The Intern will scratch that itch. It is not a movie that raises the bar, but it is charming and well made, and there is a lot to be said for that.
The Intern is about Ben Whittaker (Robert De Niro) a 70 year widower who is finding retirement to be a bit dull and lonely. He has already traveled the world, and he doesn’t want to be a bother to his son’s family, so he decides to become an intern at a local tech start up. He is quickly paired with the CEO and Founder of the company Jules Ostin (Anne Hathaway) who is overworked and over-busy, so he will have to use his old school work ethic and caring personality to help her out.
This movie is pretty much setup like a standard romantic comedy, but with the twist that the two leads become friends instead of a couple. Which is actually a refreshing change. It is sweet to see De Niro take the role of almost a caring grandfather to this person that just needs a steady hand on her shoulder as her company is taking off. I also appreciated that they did this while still showing that Hathaway’s character was more than capable at her job. She didn’t need someone to save her from her job. She just needed a friend and some guidance.
The Intern is a fine film that no doubt has a large audience. Nancy Meyers is a good filmmaker who knows her product and market well. If you are part of that market, I am sure that you will like The Intern, and even though I am not part of the target audience, I enjoyed myself as well. So just like Jules Ostin you may just need to give The Intern a chance.