Advance Screening: "The Intern"

I love Nancy Meyers.  I've been a fan since Baby Boom and can watch that movie (along with the Father of the Bride remakes with Steve Martin, The Holiday, It's Complicated, et al.) on repeat.  She's witty and she just gets relationships so well which translates in her movies.  The gold medal casting is a bonus.

When I was offered the chance to screen The Intern in advance of its opening date this week, I quickly jumped at it.  And I am certainly not sorry I did.

The Intern is a different type of relationship movie.  It's not a rom-com although it centers around the professional relationship between Robert DeNiro's Ben and Anne Hathaway's Jules.  Ben, a widower who has been retired for two years spends his days at Starbucks and attending funerals but still feels that he has something to offer and can be useful.  Jules is a young wife and mother and the brainchild behind About the Fit, a booming e-commerce business she forsaking sleep and food to run.  From the start, Meyers threw us a curve ball by having the 30-ish Hathaway be the 70 year old DeNiro's boss.  There are gestures to Ben's old school ways of working (suit and tie, an attaché case) and to Jules' new age way of working (riding a bike around the office, very long hours.)  Some differences are remarkably subtle, others played very much for a laugh.

Anne Hathaway does a wonderful job playing a character that could be brash and ultimately unrelatable but while Jules is driven and focused, she is also allowed to have a soft, emotional side that is revealed at exactly the right time.  Rather than becoming a Miranda Priestley knockoff, Jules is more of a Devil Wears Prada Andy, after a few years in the trenches.  We understand Jules, feel for her when the judgy moms at the playground are being, well, judgy, over her career and, even better, want Jules to succeed. 

As well cast as Hathaway is, Robert DeNiro is even better.  He is the heart and soul of The Intern, with a performance so achingly sublime it's miles away from the intensity of Taxi Driver and the in-your-face comedy of Meet the Parents.  He makes the movie for me and any time he was off the screen (fortunately not often) was wasted in my opinion.  I'm glad that Meyers didn't go cliché or stereotypical with his Ben - - no romance with Jules, no health crisis, no mourning over his situation.  Ben keeps it moving and that's refreshing. 

The chemistry with DeNiro and Hathaway was true but I also enjoyed seeing his interactions with the younger (i.e., twenties) interns he was working with.  Their confusion over his attire, his customs was humorous and it was gratifying to see that while they picked up some tips from him, he also learned from them.

Nancy Meyers not only wrote the script but was at the helm of this movie.  To repeat, she is a nuanced writer who understands relationships, whether they be romantic, platonic or familial.  You name it and she nails it.  She did a splendid job here, writing and directing, showing the relationship between Ben and Jules developing organically, with the seeds of a real companionship taking root. 

If you're familiar with previous Meyers movies, yes, there is a nice bit of house porn and even office porn.  I always notice this - - love Jules' brownstone, which reminds me of Meg Ryan's in You've Got Mail.   Even About the Fit's office is a sharp space, a modernized former factory that reminds me more than just a little of Steve Martin's Sidekicks factory/office from Father of the Bride.  And the flowers we see scattered here and there are gorgeous.

Will everyone like The Intern?  No, probably not.  It's about a relationship but not as talky as When Harry Met Sally.  It's humorous but there are also some deep, emotional scars that need to be tended.  Nothing explodes or blows up and there is no nudity. Part of Jules' struggle may be difficult for some or offensive to others.  If you're not a fan of Hathaway or DeNiro, you may want to take a pass.

I enjoyed it and felt that it was pleasing to the majority of the audience in attendance.  Sure, I heard a man behind me say that he was glad he didn't pay but overall, the movie was sprinkled with laughter from the viewers and a satisfied round of applause upon the conclusion.  While I couldn't help but wonder if Meyers' muse Diane Keaton would have been cast if Ben had been written to be a female, I left The Intern feeling content, satiated and yes . . . wanting to move into that brownstone.

The Intern opens nationally Thursday evening.     

"Bride Wars" - What Went Wrong

Last weekend I was being a slug and watching Bride Wars on one of my handful of cable channels.  Even though I own it on DVD.  Don't judge either statement.


I like Kate Hudson.  She seems like a cool chick, someone you could hang out with, have a drink with and kick back with.  Truth be told, I'm jealous of that hippie vibe she gives off - - laid back, easygoing, hair that always looks good, pretty skin.


So . . . Bride Wars should be good, with Kate's presence, despite the name (not a fan) and yet it doesn't quite reach its potential for two main reasons.


The first should be fairly obvious if you've seen the film because it's a relatively large plot hole.  The characters of Liv and Emma go to see wedding planner extraordinaire Marion and are told there are three openings in the month of June at the exclusive Plaza, two on the same day and one a couple of weeks later.  Liv is going to take one of the days and Emma the other.  All is fine and good.  However, Marion's not so intrepid assistant mixes up the dates and gives Liv and Emma the same day.  If you're a man you may not think it's that big of a deal but for these two best friends, each of whom wants the other to be their maid of honor, this is a nightmare.  Marion tells the besties this and suggests that one of them change their date (with the next available June date being three years in the future) since the other available date was given to a third bride. 


And herein lies the first problem.  Since this was a technical/computer entry foul up, why wouldn't Marion tell the third bride that date was not available but this other June date is?  Someone as in demand and well respected as Marion is supposed to be surely would have no problem doing just that, rather than simpering to Liv and Emma about the mix up and how she can't possibly share the third bride's name with them due to confidentiality (while also having binders with brides' names on them located on a shelf in full view of everyone walking in but that's another issue.)   Candice Bergen, who plays Marion, has probably never simpered a day in her life.  If this was a 1930s screwball comedy, it would be believable but for today?  Hmmmm . . .

Of course if Marion had done that, the movie would have been over because there would have been no conflict.  So what should have happened?   Why not have only one date available in June at the Plaza from the start?  Liv and Emma could have reserved it together and then tried to figure out who would get it - - coin toss, house of cards, arm wrestling, rock, paper, scissors, whatever.  They could have discussed the double wedding scenario and then could have acted like crazy women.


And that leads me to the second issue with the story.  Liv and Emma are lifelong friends, absolute besties.  The thought that these two would immediately begin backstabbing each other and going to lengths such as tampering with hair dye, spray tans and pregnancy rumors is farfetched, even if we suspend reality for the enjoyment of entertainment.  Wouldn't it have made more sense to have the two of them be frenemies or roommates or something like that, in order to somewhat explain why they went absolutely BSC on each other? 


I know some women hate this movie with a passion, mainly because they feel it makes women in general look petty and unhinged when it comes to getting married.  Look, this is pure entertainment and I hardly take it as a course in reality.  Have you ever seen the show Bridezillas?  There are truly people out there that lose all capacity for reasoning and logic when planning a wedding.


That said,  Bride Wars does have entertaining spots (Kristen Johnston is hilarious in a supporting role) if you look past the plot hole.   I liked  Anne Hathaway in The Devil Wears Prada (anything with Meryl Streep is gold) but didn't care for her as much here.  Let me correct that - - her character didn't resonate quite as well with me.   The film overall does have some cute and funny moments and it's not a terrible way to spend two hours of your time. 


Any opinions from those who have seen Bride Wars?