The Intern

Ben Whittaker (Robert DeNiro) is a 70-year-old widower who finds himself bored and underwhelmed in his retirement. He seizes an opportunity to take up a senior internship position at an online fashion start-up, where he is immediately a hit with everyone – except for company founder Jules Ostin (Anne Hathaway), who is finding herself overwhelmed with the pressures of running her own company.

At the initial idea of Hollywood heavyweights DeNiro and Hathaway paired up as an ‘odd couple’ (spinning on not one but two usual tropes: age and gender) working office jobs like regular people, you’d be forgiven for preparing yourself for something lacking in substance. Set expectations aside however, and settle in for an all-round delightful romp through an emotional and modern human journey.

The Intern provides a fairly measured (if not gimmicky) look into the hectic office life of a start-up business that is growing much quicker than anyone can keep up with. The contrast of Ben’s traditional workplace sensibilities make for genuine moments of hilarity, and anyone who has ever felt overwhelmed in an office job will laugh and cry in solidarity with his millennial co-workers. You should spot some familiar actors from various other comedies, and some faces you’ll hope to see again.

Most refreshing of all however, is watching a fictional relationship evolve between a younger woman and an older man that doesn’t feel pressured to head in a romantic direction. DeNiro is genuinely endearing as Ben, and Hathaway’s complex character gradually emerges as her life and challenges are revealed. (AM)

***1/2