{"id":3639,"date":"2015-10-04T19:27:59","date_gmt":"2015-10-04T19:27:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmgaze.com\/blog\/?p=3639"},"modified":"2015-10-04T19:34:18","modified_gmt":"2015-10-04T19:34:18","slug":"the-intern","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmgaze.com\/blog\/comedy\/the-intern\/","title":{"rendered":"The Intern ***"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"the-intern\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Life is grim in times of austerity, especially for those facing their autumn years in life. So what better than an uplifting film from the Nancy Meyers\u2019 collection of \u2018cosy life stories\u2019 that embraces the more mature in the technology world. Yes, it may seem a little far-fetched in reality as we all know over thirty-somethings seem over the hill in this environment, cast aside for the energy of youth. However, The Intern<\/em> takes this sorry premise and cynically pokes fun at it. Remember, with age comes wisdom, it seems.<\/p>\n

70-year-old widower Ben Whittaker (Robert De Niro) has discovered that retirement isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Seizing an opportunity to get back in the game, he becomes a senior intern at an online fashion site, founded and run by Jules Ostin (Anne Hathaway). Whittaker finds a new romance along the way while saving another.<\/p>\n

Meyers magic returns for fans now living in the faster-paced 21st<\/sup> century and with life online. The rest of the scenario is much the same in The Intern<\/em>, with cosy settings that we all dream of living and working in, \u2018beautiful\u2019 people to match, and events that spark a collective \u2018sigh\u2019 of contentment \u2013 but not without a little ripple or two to resolve first.<\/p>\n

The Intern<\/em> is the perfect vehicle for a mature De Niro to do his trademark \u2018told you so\u2019 frown and head tilt, while Hathaway flaps and talks ten to the dozen in her Devil Wears Prada<\/em> way, complete with perfect painted pout – only this time she\u2019s the Streep \u2018Miranda Priestly\u2019 character, the boss. Except, Ostin is flawed and struggling to keep it together, perhaps an analogy for the fickleness of the online business world too? Apart from \u2018older and wiser\u2019, it seems \u2018old ways are the best ways\u2019 too, the latest Meyers\u2019 moral to be taken away here \u2013 or a reassurance for anyone approaching the \u2018ancient age\u2019 of 30+.<\/p>\n

The Intern<\/em> oozes charm, warm wit and cuteness in massive Meyer mounts; either let yourself bathe in it and come out feeling the world is not such a cold and hopeless place, or refrain and encounter every clich\u00e9 in the sentimental book that you\u2019ll feel like you\u2019re drowning, while none of the scenarios have an ounce of believability \u2013 expect, perhaps, the workaholic partner endangering their idyllic family life, and the naivety of youth played out by some \u2018clown-like\u2019 characters.<\/p>\n

The latter feeling rises to the surface here quite often, but does give the more cynical viewer a good chuckle at the characters\u2019 expense. Hence, there is enjoyment to be had by either party watching. The actual reality here is a Meyers\u2019 moment reaches the hearts others cannot reach, without investment in the story. There\u2019s something for everyone, however much some try to fight it. It\u2019s harmless escapism that we secretly wish to be true; The Intern<\/em> is just the current Meyers tale in her emotional arsenal – nothing more, nothing less.<\/p>\n

3\/5 stars<\/strong><\/p>\n

By @FilmGazer<\/p>\n

Follow on Twitter<\/a>
\n