Work office mishaps lead to a friendship between Anne Hathaway and Robert De Niro, in “The Intern”. A retired successful business owner and widower (De Niro) lands an internship at a fashion website run by a young, career-driven woman (Hathaway). Over the course of five weeks, the two learn more that meets the eye between them, leading to a trusting relationship that comes at the right time for both of them in their lives. “The Intern” plays it pretty safe to the chest when it comes to it’s excitement. The film is entertaining enough, with a lot of nice experienced vs millenials discussion to pack it’s laughs. The problems come during a third act that start to expose the problems that faced this thin plot for two hours, just before it was starting to drag. I enjoyed this film, but i can’t say that it is something that i will ever come back to. It provided me enough entertainment to warrant the ticket price, but it seems to have trouble focusing on just one thing. Writer and director Nancy Meyers has always been a believer in the strong female lead story and this continues in this film. Hathaway plays a career driven woman who has it all, including a husband and daughter at home. She is proof that the American dream is possible. I just don’t feel like we learn enough about her during this feature, and it’s a shame because the film exposes some of her troubles when the movie has already been structured in a comedic fashion, but then tries to play off a dramatic turn during the final twenty minutes. It even brings up some health issues from De Niro that it never explores again. it all feels too jumbled and uninspiring to believe in just one thing. The film’s ending is also anti climatic, during a time where the film could’ve easily ended during one of two prior decent ending points. So what does the film do right? The unlikely combination of Hathaway and De Niro provide a charm that bridges the gap between two age groups that they both will enjoy. For Hathaway, there is the technologically advanced lifestyle. Hathaway has always been a positive female lead in her roles, and “The Intern” focuses on that aspect of someone fighting back against decades of discouragement to women to do it all. For De Niro, the film supports his argument for the last great generation of workers being past-tense. It’s easily one of my more favorite Robert roles, as he puts a lot of heart and nurturing into this role, and it all succeeds very light heartedly. What’s refreshing about their relationship is that it’s not the normal male/female romantic comedy that we have come to expect by such a contrived genre. There are certainly moments where the audience could make a joke for where the film could be heading, but it’s all wholesome in an almost father/daughter kind of way. For once, the term “May-December relationship” is represented in a friendship manor that is every bit as honest as it is conventional. Overall, i found “The Intern” to be a mess structurally, but rich and compelling in the nature of friendship and how important it plays in work success. The film is perfect for a girls DVD night in, but there is no need to rush out and see it on the silver screen.

6/10