The following review originally ran on Starpulse.com in 2015.
Robert De Niro’s work in the Nancy Meyers comedy The Intern might be his best of this millennium. For the first time in many years, he strips away his usual De Niro mannerisms and digs deep to inhabit the role of Ben Whittaker, a sweet widower who comes out of retirement to intern at a startup company.
De Niro’s Ben is sensitive, funny, and charming with an old-fashioned sense of professionalism. He thrives on maintaining his independence and finding purpose in his old age, which comes across in his self-assured, yet humble personality. Given his nature, it’s no surprise that Ben immediately ingratiates himself with his colleagues after he is hired by an online retailer’s experimental senior internship program.
Ben’s coworkers quickly learn to trust his experience, so it’s not long before he becomes a dependable father figure who imparts advice about relationships and how to dress to his fellow interns. He also becomes a valuable asset to his boss, Jules Ostin (Anne Hathaway), who is the company’s frazzled CEO. Ben helps Jules in her professional and personal life, while also providing much-needed encouragement when others try to pressure her into hiring a more seasoned CEO for her company. During the time they spend together, the two form an unlikely friendship.
The evolution of that friendship is a touching part of the film that will pull on your heartstrings. And although there’s a lot of sentimental sap in their conversations about life, you won’t forget that The Intern is a comedy, since there are tons of hilarious scenes. Many of them have to do with ridiculous misconceptions that Ben’s coworkers have about his physical and mental faculties as an older man. Others involve amusing interactions with Ben’s love interest (Rene Russo), and manic situations like the Ocean’s Eleven-inspired secret operation that Ben commands.
All of the heartwarming and humorous aspects that make The Intern so entertaining though, are the same ones that distract you from issues with its core story. The film really should be about Jules and her struggles to balance marriage, motherhood, and a career. Her fight to maintain control of her own company in a male-dominated executive culture is a fascinating one. So it’s disappointing that the movie ends up being more about Ben. It’s also a letdown that she only considers male CEOs for her company, when it could clearly benefit from a woman’s experience.
Speaking of men, another issue with The Intern is its misguided celebration of “the classic male.” In a conversation with her other interns, Jules laments how men aren’t like Ben, Harrison Ford, or Jack Nicholson anymore. The problem with that though, is that many of the Ford/Nicholson “classic male” types were arrogant jerks who held women back in the workplace with their outdated patriarchal attitudes. Ben is the exception to the rule, a caring and progressive guy who doesn’t fit the mold from that era. His particular character is worthy of praise, but not his contemporaries.
The last problem with this film is how it holds Ben up as a savior for Jules. His character has no flaws, which is completely unrealistic. Plus, the fact that he basically saves her from herself is insulting to her intelligence. If you can look past this movie’s faults and take it for what is on the surface, an inspirational tale about friendship and finding purpose later in life, then you’ll probably enjoy The Intern. However if you read between the lines, you’re likely to find some frustrating plot points lurking in the background that will take away from your appreciation of the movie.