The Student News Site of Loyola University Maryland

The Greyhound

The Greyhound

The Greyhound

The Intern: A Movie Review

*****WARNING: CONTAINS SPOILERS!!*****

shareWalking into The Senator to see the film, “The Intern,” last Saturday evening, I had no idea I would leave the theater with a new perspective on friendship, a newfound hope for love, a refreshing dose of feminist celebration, and most importantly, a deeper understanding of what it truly means to live a full life.

The comedy is centered around the life of Ben Whittaker (Robert De Niro), a recently retired 70-year-old man who is on the quest to find something worthwhile to do with his endless days. Upon seeing a flyer that is looking for senior interns for About The Fit, an Internet clothing company singlehandedly run by Jules Ostin (Anne Hathaway), Ben decides to apply for the job, and is instantly hired.

1431624320_the-intern-zoomBen soon becomes an office favorite, offering advice about everything from what tie to wear to dating. The only person Ben seems to have a tough time winning over is Jules herself, who is skeptical of how much he’ll be of help to her, while also fearing what might happen if she lets a stranger into her life.

From driving Jules to meetings to having breakfast with her family, Ben eases his way into Jules’ life not only as a perfect intern, but as a friend as well. Ben instills in Jules a sense of trust that she is reluctant to give at first, but through good conversation, much-needed advice, and reminders to take care of herself, he slowly wins her heart. Though a seemingly unlikely pair, the two prove that friendship goes beyond the barrier of age, and that a friend is simply someone you can turn to and talk to anytime you need.

Jules hits a roadblock when she discovers that her husband Matt is cheating on her, ultimately making her question whether or not she is spending too much time at work, and if hiring a CEO will save her marriage. After meeting with a potential CEO, Jules decides to hire him, only to be stopped by Matt who apologizes for his actions and encourages her to continue with her efforts at ATF. Here, we catch a glimpse of adultery that does not ruin a marriage, but rather, makes a spouse realize how important his significant other is to him. We are reminded that if willing to be worked on, marriage can be saved after a temporary lapse in judgement.

the-internJules’ strong female character exemplifies everything the 21st-century woman should be —independent, successful and most importantly, a leader. In the span of 18 months, Jules is able to singlehandedly build a virtual empire. Though often criticized by the stay-at-home moms at her daughter’s school, Jules holds her head up high and takes pride in all she has accomplished, much due to her own strong will and perseverance.

All in all, Jules and Ben teach us that to be truly happy in this life, we must find what it is that gives us a sense of purpose. Ben, through his pursuit of an internship at his old age, and Jules, in her refusal to give up her company to a CEO, show us that despite societal pressures, we must always follow our hearts. And who knows—we might even uncover more than we could have ever dreamed of.

Leave a Comment
More to Discover

Comments (0)

All The Greyhound Picks Reader Picks Sort: Newest

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Activate Search
The Intern: A Movie Review