Anna Bowman is a senior English and telecommunications major and writes 'Film Annalysis' for the Daily News. Her views do not necessarily agree with those of the newspaper. Write to Anna at aabowman@bsu.edu.
This high-fructose dose of Robert de Niro is an unexpectedly lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Definitely not a blockbuster hit, "The Intern" offers a more understated and feel-good experience than movies like "Straight Outta Compton" or "Black Mass." Although it may not win any awards, "The Intern" is a movie that did just what it intended and provided 121 minutes of frivolous delight.
We’ve been seeing a transition in Robert de Niro for a while now – his slow ease from the mobster in "Goodfellas" to the crotchety father in "Meet the Fockers," and finally to the retired softy that we see in "The Intern." The question is, “Is he pulling it off?” Can we believe that James Conway does tai chi in the park and is willing to deliver coffee as part of his job? I think so. If this role were given to someone like Clint Eastwood, it would be a different story.
As for Anne Hathaway, she does a great job at being herself. A self-sufficient woman with a solid work ethic, heart of gold and big laugh, she fits almost too perfectly into her role. After seeing movies like "Interstellar" and "Les Misérables," this film looks to be a step down from what we’ve come to expect from Hathaway.
The only real issue with casting is Anders Holm, who plays Jules’s husband. It is evident that his resume includes mostly minor sitcom spots throughout his years of acting, as that is most definitely his style. Overacting to the point of no return, Holm is the fatal flaw of "The Intern."
The film is written by Nancy Meyers, the same woman responsible for “It’s Complicated,” “The Holiday,” and “The Parent Trap.” It is evident through her writing that she likes to focus on the family dynamic and what happens when something throws it off track. So much so, that the conflict in this film feels forced. Everything in the movie is going swimmingly until, all of the sudden, there is a plot twist. There is no warning sign and barely any motive for the struggle at all. It almost seems as though the conflict was tossed in as an afterthought – an “Oops! I knew I was forgetting something!” add-on to the otherwise peaceful and perfectly pleasant plot.
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Despite its lighthearted appeal, "The Intern" does deal with an issue that will affect this generation in particular: “What happens when I’m ‘too old’ to get a job?” Although most of us won’t have the luxury of retiring and doing a random internship just for fun, there is still some merit in what the film says about ageism in the workforce. Let’s face it, people are starting to live longer, so they’re going to have to work longer. "The Intern" shows what happens when an older person tries to work in today’s job force.
In addition to ageism, "The Intern" also deals with the ever-present and possibly overexposed problem of sexism in the workforce. Jules Ostin, who is played by Hathaway, is a founder of an up-and-coming online clothing website, and the film immediately draws attention to this “anomaly.” For example, in one of the first scenes between de Niro and Hathaway, he calls her “sir.” In another instance, she drunkenly rages about the inequality of men and women in a bar after work. However sloppily it may present the idea, the film opens up yet another conversation about women not being taken seriously in a position of power.
If you’re in need of a little uplifting and don’t want to be bogged down by a heavy storyline, "The Intern" will be right up your alley – just don’t be surprised if you’re the only one in the audience under seventy.
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