Review: THE INTERN, Starring De Niro, Hathaway, Rannells is Delightfully Charming

For some reason that I have yet to understand, there is apparently a considerable segment of the population that doesn't care for Anne Hathaway. I wouldn't consider myself a marked Hathaway fan, but after seeing THE INTERN, I challenge each and every one of the people that dislike her to see the movie and not walk out wishing that she was their boss/best friend. While much of the film's marketing is centered on the kinder, gentler Robert DeNiro, Hathaway is an utterly charming life-force in and of herself in this movie, and has given me a new appreciation for her as a performer. De Niro is also quite charismatic in the film, but Hathaway is the disarmingly delightful star.

She plays Jules Ostin, the founder of online clothing retailer About the Fit. The company, which was started at her kitchen table as little more than an idea of a better way for women to buy clothes, has grown to have over 200 employees and revenue of millions of dollars in just a year and a half. Despite the success, like many start-ups, About the Fit has grown a bit too quickly, leading to the wife and mother burning the candle at both ends.

Jules' business partner Cameron (played by Tony-nominee Andrew Rannells) arranges to hire a group of new interns through a senior outreach program. Widower and former phonebook executive Ben Whittaker (De Niro) is constantly looking for new ways to keep himself busy and to expand his horizons, so, on a whim, he applies. After earning the position, an adorably eager Ben receives the unenviable assignment of working directly for Jules.

What's nice about THE INTERN is that, while Jules is tough to work for, it is not because she falls into the mean, female business lady trope (a la Miranda Priestly), but rather it is because she so loves this business that she has nurtured from the ground up, that it is tough for her to let go of over-seeing even the tiniest detail. However, despite her best intentions, things are falling through the cracks, and Cameron tells her that the investors are urging her to hire a CEO, effectively turning over the reins of the company.

This single decision looms increasingly large as it becomes clear that it will have a dramatic impact on every aspect of both her professional and personal lives, each of which has been suffering as of late. Through the process, Ben grows to be Jules' friend and confidant, providing her insight about her business and herself that she might not otherwise have had time to realize.

The movie, written and directed by Nancy Meyers (THE PARENT TRAP, SOMETHING'S GOTTA GIVE, IT'S COMPLICATED) shows Jules as a remarkable visionary leader who nonetheless must still find ways to balance all aspects of her life. Rather than thinly skirting issues of feminism, as many movies with female, professional protagonists do, Meyers' script admirably addresses them head on; whether it is the misogynistic CEO candidate or the not-so-subtle incidents of mom-shaming. The only thing that gave me a little apprehension is that this young, brilliant business women needed an older man to help her see what was most important (which might not always be what you would expect). I wonder if the movie would have played any differently if the Ben role had been played by Diane Keaton, Glenn Close, Sally Field, or another actress of their stature.

Either way, the entire film is sweet and touching in countless surprising ways. More often than not, Meyers avoids the track that seems most obvious, resulting in some honestly emotional moments. There is one very funny detour in the movie involving a road-trip for Ben and his fellow interns that seems like it was dropped in from a completely different film (admittedly a film that I would gladly watch), but other than that THE INTERNS journey is seamless and satisfying.

In addition, there are many genuine laughs in the film was well, including plenty of the requisite "back in my day" inspired jokes complete with briefcases and handkerchiefs. The supporting cast is filled with fun performances from Rene Russo as Fiona, AtF's House Masseuse; Adam DeVine as Jason a fellow intern; Linda Lavin as Ben's quite smitten neighbor; and Anders Holm as Jules' husband Matt, who gave up a successful marketing career to stay at home with their daughter Paige (played by JoJo Kushner) when About the Fit took off.

Throughout it all, Hathaway is a breath of fresh air, in a character that we don't see often enough on screen. This weekend's box office options are fairly limited, so if you are looking for a sweet, funny film, THE INTERN is likely your best bet.

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THE INTERN starring Robert De Niro, Anne Hathaway, Andrew Rannells, Rene Russo, Adam DeVine, Linda Lavin, Anders Holm, and more is rated PG-13 for some suggestive content and brief strong language.

After seeing THE INTERN, would you work for Jules? Better yet, has your opinion changed of Anne Hathaway? Let me know what you think in the comments below, or on Twitter @BWWMatt. If you want to follow along with my "366 in 366" articles, you can check out #BWW366in366 on Twitter. Also, make sure to follow @BWWMoviesWorld on Twitter for all of the biggest news from the world of movies.

Photo and Video Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

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