The Intern – Movie

This is more of my observations of the movie, while watching say 4th or 5th time, than critical review. The casting as always is top notch. Two of the biggest stalwarts of Hollywood – Robert D’Nero and Ann Hathaway playing the lead roles. Ann Hathaway plays Jules, head of a fashion e-commerce startup, Robert D’Nero plays Ben, the senior intern to Jules. Becky is Jules PA.

Depicting the contrast – 70 year guy applies for a intern position in a fashion industry startup; the HR dept guys interviewing Ben just couldn’t ask the right questions – Do you remember what you majored in University, where do you see yourself in next 10 years like that. It’s so heartwarming to see Ben becoming office favourite just in matter of days; the young guys like to take his advice and like to hangout with;

Qualities of Ben

• Initially when Ben was benched by his Boss, Jules, he waited patiently for task to be assigned. He just didn’t sit there. He made himself useful by helping others like Becky, his HR supervisor, his colleagues, helping random office colleague to deliver parcels, cleaning up the desk which became office dumpyard, just whatever his office required! That’s one quality any organization’s head looks in an potential hire – self driven, team player, resourceful etc
• A good trusted confidant – doesn’t leak the confidential information of bosses or friends; When he went to pick up his boss Jules’ jacket for dry cleaning, she was discussing the CEO thing with her second in command. Ben was there for few seconds hearing the most difficult thing for Jules to do- handover the reins to a new CEO- Ben just acted as if he wasn’t there. When he came out and Jules’ PA Becky asked what was being discussed in the hall, Ben didn’t say a word.
• Both the times – when Jules’ driver and husband cheated on her – one by drinking during work and other having affair with another lady – Ben was the witness; He tried saving his Boss’s ass like a trusted loyal subordinate. He gave Jules the wisdom and clarity she needed during the whole CEO crisis thing.
  • When Ben took over the driving from Jules’ drunk driver, he promised things that happen inside the car remains confidential

Ben’s smart, but he does let his smartness and intelligence overshadow his kindness, large heatedness , friendliness – like when Becky broke down for not keeping up in pace with Jules, for not being acknowledged, Ben made it a point to highlight Becky to Jules- by slipping her name when he shared his analysis of ATF’s web page statistics, not letting Becky drive the car etc
Ben knows how to handle women – he always carried a hand kerchief, to offer to a sobbing lady, just in case.

Emotional Intelligence -10/10

Ben didn’t take it heart when Jules got him transferred to other section. He might have been tad surprised but that didn’t bog him down – anyways the transfer was valid just for a day when Jules came searching for Ben and begged him to join her back, which Ben obliged like a good friend. Ben had grown so close, trustworthy and dependable that Jules could confide her turmoil in personal life and marriage to Ben and just seek solace.

It’s as if, Ben was Godsend to Jules. Ben was perfectly satisfied, happy man who has lived his life to the fullest, served as VP of a phonebook company and has no complaints in life. This was epitomised in the last scene of the movie when Jules and her husband make peace and salvage their marriage and work too, which was a happy ending for everyone. Right then when Jules was searching for Ben to express her relief and gratitude, Ben was in his usual place – doing Japanese physical mental exercise in a park.

The movie is definitely one such thing to be watched say on a lazy Sunday afternoon with family. It’s entertaining, enlightening and heartwarming at the same time.