The Intern

There’s something so relaxing about a Nancy Meyers movie. Everything looks so good. Both elegant and comfortable. Glenn Kenny said in his review, “It’s not just the real estate porn, which had its most blatant manifestation in the Hamptons beach house featured in Meyers’ ageism-juggling 2003 rom-com “Something’s Gotta Give.” It’s also the furnishings, like the rotating tie rack in the bedroom of the brownstone owned by Robert De Niro’s retired businessman in her latest, “The Intern.” It’s how all the surfaces gleam: “The Intern” was shot at locations mostly within walking distance of where I actually live, and while it is a very blessed part of Brooklyn, its windows are not normally quite as uniformly shiny as those of the buildings seen here.”

Kenny continued, “And often this soothing quality serves as a distraction from how inane and uncomfortable a movie such as “Something’s Gotta Give” can be. But here’s the thing: “The Intern,” while having its share of silly moments, is the most genuinely enjoyable and likable movie that Meyers—a longtime writer and producer before taking up directing—has put her name to since, oh, I don’t know, 1984’s “Irreconcilable Differences.””

De Niro has the main role here, like in “Taxi Driver,” “Raging Bull,” and even “The King of Comedy.” His character’s name is Ben Whittaker, and he’s a retired, wealthy widower in Brooklyn who’s bored with the amount of free time in his current, comfortable way of living. He applies for a position in a “Senior Intern Program” and an e-commerce concern called “About The Fit,” and ends up reporting to its founder, Jules, a classic, for Meyers, 21^st Century entrepreneur character. Not too far underneath her bright exterior (she IS played by Anne Hathaway) is a highly motivated and possibly restricted go-getter.

Kenny credited, “De Niro’s character here is one that he pretty much never played during what many consider his acting heyday: a decent, straightforward, non-neurotic regular guy who’s gotten somewhere good in life. And in this movie, he plays it rather well. There’s something slightly Woody Allenesque about his opening scene, in which he constructs a job-application video. His role calls for him to do a certain amount of mugging as he interacts with younger colleagues and learns about the Weird Things These Kids Today Do With Their Relationships And The Internet and such. Thankfully, the movie doesn’t dwell on senior-citizen bemusement with the Digital Age all too much; one of the points of De Niro’s character is that he’s alert and competent and wants to be of service. He has a hard time being of service to Jules, whose relentless focus makes her immediately distrustful of anyone who has an insight as to how she conceives and runs her business. And the movie is rather good at the details of that business, and the way that Jules’ vision for it defines its practical particulars.”

Kenny continued, “But Ben manages to get into Jules’ good graces partly via patriarchal stealth, as when he confronts Jules’ driver after seeing him take a few nips out of a paper bag right before the soon-to-be-ex-employee is supposed to take her to a meeting in Manhattan. Ben’s internship happens to coincide with a challenging period in the growth of Jules’ company; Jules’ aide-de-camp Cameron (a very understated Andrew Rannells) brings her the unusual news that the company’s investors, while delighted with its success, would like to bring an outside CEO to the company. Jules dutifully interviews prospects even as she’s dizzied by the idea that she could be effectively ousted from her own creation. In the meantime, her home life—she has a too-milquetoasty-to-be-a-bro-dad husband (Anders Holm) and a predictably delightful and adorable young daughter (JoJo Kushner)—is taking the standard can-a-career-woman-have-it-all hits. And at least one hit that’s not so standard, or maybe I should say, not so easy to stand.”

Through everything Ben keeps a careful, sympathetic watch – early in their relationship, Jules admits her discomfort with him as rising because he’s too “observant” – and when he comes to give her help, he does so in a subtly brave way that actually parallels any “here is dad to save you” expectations. As it happens, Ben sincerely cares for Jules – looks up to her, you can say – and when he does bring his experience as a businessman to help Jules in her own business, it’s in the spirit of sharing knowledge besides correction. At the worst, Ben gives Jules the guarantee that the thing to do is be tough and go after what you want.

Kenny said, “The adages of “The Intern” are delivered in a comedy package that, for the most part, is sane, sweet, and smart, and a lot of the time, actually funny. A budding romance between Ben and the company’s in-house masseuse (Rene Russo) is fodder for two groan-inducing visual gags. But a silly set piece in which Ben enlists some of the younger goofballs of About The Fit on a housebreaking mission, replete with latter-day “Ocean’s Eleven” references, is actually a tolerable bit of rompage. And everyone in the cast, including Hathaway, who, for the record, I have never not liked, is extremely appealing. “What have you done with my husband?” my wife asked me the other night when I came home and told her I’d had a genuinely good time watching a Nancy Meyers movie. What could I say?” You’re never too old to keep an open mind.

This is another comedy that everyone should see. Even though you could call this a comedy, there are some genuine moments in here that feel really good. Like when De Niro speaks to Hathaway about his life experiences to help her out, it really says a lot. If you haven’t seen this, I would recommend it because you will enjoy this one a lot. I know I did when I saw this as a rental with my sister from the library.

Alright, that ends “Robert De Niro Month.” I’m sorry for the late posting, as I fell asleep then I had family over tonight. Stay tuned next month to see what other excitement I have planned.