Movie Review - the Intern

Robert DeNiro plays against-type in this wonderful comedy about a senior citizen intern succeeding in the world of e-commerce. With a full career of business under his belt and plenty of energy to boot, DeNiro (Ben) finds himself bored with the retired life. A lonely widower's existence doesn't help matters much, nor do the untoward advances from women his age (Linda Lavin in several funny scenes).

On a whim, Ben steps out of his comfort zone and applies for an internship with "About the Fit," an up and coming, online fashion company. DeNiro is delightfully funny during the interview process, where old school charm buts up against brash, Gen X bluntness.

Surprisingly, despite his age, Ben's chivalry and polished demeanor help him land the job working for none other than the company's founder and CEO, Anne Hathaway (Jules Ostin).  Hathaway shines in this role, as she does in all of her films. She is more than believable as a young, corporate innovator who can balance stellar customer service with an increased bottom line that has kept her investors happy since the company's inception. Internet hits are up, as are sales, her employees are loyal, motivated, and hard working in a fast-paced environment, and the future only promises greater things. The only problem is that success is coming too fast, which raises a question regarding her experience in managing a burgeoning global company.

Can this smart, attractive, fire-ball of a young woman take her fledging company to the next level? Jules certainly thinks so, but her investors are doubtful. And so, against her better judgement, she agrees to conduct a search for an outside CEO to ensure the corporate ship stays afloat.

From afar, Ben watches all of this unfold, marveling at the talent and boldness of this young, whip-smart entrepreneur. At first, Jules is put off by his perceptive eye and fatherly watchfulness, but he soon reveals himself to be more than a former phone-book salesman, insistent on wearing a suit and tie to work and carrying an old, leather briefcase filled with paper, pens, and paperclips. He has the wisdom and insight of a seasoned executive and a keen, instinctive eye for where trouble may be lurking, all of which Jules desperately needs.

After several precarious circumstances, Ben proves to be more than just a loyal intern. Jules learns to trust him implicitly, eventually letting him into her home to meet her stay-at-home husband and adorable little girl and then into her heart. He becomes her chauffer, business adviser, partner, confidant, and best friend.

While Jules and Ben's relationship is be no means romantic, it is stronger and more intimate that many romances told in Hollywood tales. Nancy Meyers, the screenwriter and director, reveals her tremendous talent as a top-notch storyteller by developing a beautiful, soul tie between these two very different people from two very different generations, proving that people are still people, regardless of age, gender, or the era in which they live. As she often does in her movies, Meyers tosses in just the right amount of humor to add the levity needed to keep the story moving along at a nice pace. Be prepared for funny scenes with several younger, nerdier interns who eventually look to Ben as the man to emulate, despite the great disparity in age. Also, the beautiful Renee Russo delivers as a sensual corporate masseuse who falls for Ben's gentlemanly manner. A little too R rated for me in some scenes, but funny, nevertheless.

*** SPOILER ALERT ***

The film does a great job of showing the conflict women have in balancing high-pressure, high-profile corporate positions with the pull of family obligations. While Jules' husband is supportive of her busy schedule, the strain on their relationship eventually takes a toll, and adultery enters the mix. Ben discovers the truth and struggles over how to tell Jules, but as it turns out, she has known for some time and has kept her emotions to herself. In a great scene on a hotel room bed, Jules and Ben's relationship reaches the pinnacle of intimacy when she unburdens her heart and tells Ben her sad, sordid tale. Hathaway is great in this scene, displaying her anger over her husband's infidelities as well as her love for him and her desire to "fix" the problem; she firmly believes that finding an outside CEO is just what the doctor ordered to restore what has been lost. But Ben thinks otherwise. As the loving parent, confidant, and friend, he encourages her to stick to her guns and hang on to her company, that it is her creation, and that an unfaithful husband is no reason to give up on one's dreams. He encourages her to continue to believe that she can have it all: company, career, family, and even a renewed love from a repentant spouse.

Forgiveness is a theme that carries through to the end of the film, which is unexpected in a Hollywood comedy. Jules agrees to give her marriage another chance but on the terms they had agreed upon years ago. She will still continue to work hard, put in long hours, and run the company she founded, living out the dream in her heart while husband holds down the fort at home. While life will certainly not be perfect, it is their life, and they will get through it together.

This is a great story of how an older, wiser, yet nonjudgmental friend helps someone from the next generation manage a significant bump on life's pathway. Like Jules, many of us could benefit from having that older, preferably Godly, mentor in our lives to help us see things that we may be blind to.

The Intern is truly wonderful film that surprises on so many levels. It is unique, timely, and appeals to young and old alike. Definitely one for the personal movie library!

Movie Review - Leap Year

Leap Year is a delightful romantic comedy, starring Amy Adams and Matthew Goode, a gorgeous, sultry British actor seen in The Good Wife and Imitation Game. More fairy tale than reality, the movie is filled with Irish charm and funny "fish-out-of water" scenes where a posh American must maneuver the obstacles of a backward, foreign culture to find her true love.

The story starts out with Adams as a successful New York real estate staging consultant, set on getting a marriage proposal from her stodgy surgeon boyfriend, played by Adam Scott. When he presents her with a pair of diamond earrings instead of an engagement ring, she decides to take matters into her own hands.

Influenced by an Irish family tradition where females are allowed to propose marriage on leap year, Adams follows Scott to a medical conference in Dublin with plans to pop the question herself. But as fate would have it, turbulent weather intervenes, diverting her flight to Cardiff, Wales. In a Planes, Trains, and Automobiles moment, she ends up stranded in the small Welsh town of Dingle with only two days to get to Dublin before February 29th arrives.

Sparks fly when she meets up with local pub owner, Goode, who agrees to drive her to Dublin for a fee. As it turns out, he only has ten days to satisfy his creditors or he risks losing everything. The entire film is a race against time where one obstacle after another keeps Adams further away from her potential fiancé and Goode that much closer to bankruptcy.

A note about Matthew Goode: his stunning good looks and witty charm make the movie work. Adams plays the same character we have seen in most of her other films, but Goode is the spice that makes the film funny and memorable. His goofy mannerisms interplayed with handsome smiles and flashes from his crystal blue eyes are a winning combination. I liked his running jokes where he called her Louis Vuitton suitcase "Louie" and made it a habit to refer to Adams as "Bob." Obviously, the sexual attraction is there, but it is never acted upon, other than a gratuitous scene with a non-opaque shower curtain.

As they begin their road trip in a tiny, sputtering car, Goode hits Adams with the awful truth that this leap year tradition is pure nonsense. Basically, he confronts her with the hard reality that she is in love with a man who is avoiding commitment and has no plans to marry, regardless of her belief in Irish folklore. His brash demeanor sets off a motherlode of fireworks that ignites the animosity between the two, leading to a car crash, robbery, bar fight, and a pair of six hundred dollar high heels in a steaming cow pie, all in quick succession.

But as with all well-tooled romcoms, the relationship soon begins its slow turn, like a ship maneuvering the high seas. Tender moments where Adams helps Goode cook a gourmet meal at a little bed and breakfast build the romance, as she begins to witness his talent in the kitchen and he observes her eye for staging a room and making things beautiful. The chemistry builds when they are forced to share a kiss over dinner, which ignites more fire than either of them would care to admit. His abrupt retreat creates some confusion, making Adams wonder if he is truly interested. But the viewer senses Goode is harboring a secret hurt that prevents him from falling in love. While she questions her commitment for her fiance, Goode questions whether he should give romance a chance with this quirky American girl.

** SPOILER ALERT **

Through a bit of gentle needling, Adams gets Goode to spill the beans and share his sad tale; a typical scenario of a lost love who left him for a best friend. It is a simple but necessary scene that proves to Adams that she has now gained his trust. As one would expect, the relationship moves toward a place where futures can take drastic turns, but then, as timing would dictate, they find themselves in Dublin where Scott awaits. To Adams' shock, he proposes in the hotel lobby in front of Goode, compelling her to give a swift answer. Of course, she gives a resounding "yes" but with less enthusiasm than what she had originally planned. Goode is crushed (as is the viewer) and makes a quick retreat back to his Welsh home.

As Adams returns to New York and resumes her opulent life with Scott, she realizes something is missing. The witty banter and fiery sparks she experienced with Goode are missing from her relationship with this dull man who only thinks of money and self. Before long, Adams realizes she has been duped and that she is about to make a terrible mistake. Taking a chance, she returns to Wales to find Goode running a thriving restaurant. Even though leap year has long passed, she makes the bold move and asks him to spend his life with her before a full house of patrons. I won't give away any more, other than to say that things don't turn out as expected-and yet, they do.

This is a wonderful, little date flick that was released in 2010, but has recently come out on Netflix and found an audience. It is rare for its genre, in that it is fairly clean and void of profanity and gratuitous material. A nice bit of entertainment with the spouse or significant other! Watch and enjoy.