The Intern (2015)
Writer and director Nancy Meyers is well known for her many past successes, including The Parent Trap and Something's Gotta Give. Her films seem to follow the same pattern — lauded by audiences and deprecated by critics. Meyers' last movie, The Intern, released September 25, 2015, conforms to the same trend. While earning a 4.8/5 rating from the audience, it received 59% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 51% on Metacritic.
Starring Robert De Niro, who plays the 70-year-old widower Ben Whittaker, and Anne Hathaway in the role of young, ambitious entrepreneur Jules Ostin, The Intern is a light-hearted, feel-good comedy drama. As it employs generic settings and a slow beginning, the movie doesn't seem to stand out much at first. However, it is soon redeemed as the beautiful friendship between the two main characters blossoms.
Ben Whittaker is living a jaded life after retirement, longing for something to fill his time. Sweet, wise, and patient, the character is not only interesting but also endearing. When stumbling across a flyer requesting senior interns for About the Fit, a fashion e-commerce start-up, Ben decides to apply and is eventually selected for the program. He is assigned to work with Jules Ostin, the founder and CEO of the company.
Ben and Jules develop a close relationship throughout the duration of the movie. Their converse personalities help balance each other out. Jules is the epitome of a young, busy woman constantly attempting to catch up with her hectic schedule and endless tasks. Meanwhile, Ben is docile and slow, taking time to enjoy life. Despite the fact that Jules is his boss, Ben often acts as a mentor to her, offering advice and comfort when she finds herself overwhelmed by stress.
Though this movie may at first seem mundane, I truly believe it's worth a watch. Modern movies and TV shows represent all kinds of relationships; romantic and familial relationships, however, are more commonly explored, while representations of pure friendships are usually cast aside. The unlikely and unique friendship formed between the two main characters of this movie is precisely what makes it unlike any other.
