Robert DeNiro plays the title character, a retired 70 year-old widower who has become bored with his life. After 40 years in the business of printing telephone books and then losing his beloved wife of 42 years, he did his best to adjust to his new life, and it worked – for a while. He traveled the world and engaged in a wide variety of physical and intellectual pursuits to keep himself occupied, but it wasn't enough. When walking the streets of his native Brooklyn, he sees a flyer for a senior intern program at a young, but burgeoning internet clothing company. Ben feels that learning more about technology and working with young people feels like just the challenge he needs to occupy his mind and his time. He applies, via a terrific self-made video (the company's requirement), and sits through a series of amusing interviews with company employees young enough to be his grandchildren… and he gets the internship.
Ben ends up working directly for the company's very capable, but over-extended founder, played by Anne Hathaway. The senior intern program was her idea, but Jules is initially hesitant to deal with Ben personally on a daily basis. She's a perfectionist who's constantly on the go. She's difficult to work for and she knows it. She loves and respects all 220 of her employees, but her motto might as well be "If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself." Yet, it's hard to resist Ben's earnestness, strong work ethic and wise, calming presence. After a little awkwardness as Ben and Jules both try to figure out how he can best serve his new boss, he ends up becoming her driver. In this capacity, he gets to know Jules' stay-at-home husband (Anders Holm), their precocious, but adorable young daughter (JoJo Kushner) and, most importantly, Jules herself, in all her earnestness, anxiety and vulnerability.
The story is simple and very well knit. It beautifully portrays how a Baby Boomer generation old school veteran brings peace and stability to a Millennial generation woman entrepreneur lost in the crazy and excruciatingly demanding business world. The characters have been well conceptualized and sketched. What is interesting to see is how a rapid fire, anxious, no non-sense, always on top of everything boss (Anne Hathaway) works with a composed, experienced, twice aged intern (Robert De Niro). Some of the scenes really touch your heart, especially the conversations between Anne Hathaway and Robert De Niro. I won't reveal it to spill the beans over here. At the end, it leaves you with some food for thought.
As for the acting with stalwarts like Anne Hathaway and Robert De Niro, one doesn't really need to worry much about the acting. The simplicity of the story didn't demand high levels of acting either. However, Anne Hathaway and Robert De Niro does a great job at projecting the aspirations, principles, beliefs and challenges of both the generations on one plate, not just in terms of dialog delivery but also expressions. The supporting cast does a commendable job too with the available screen time.
The movie is not about one person saving the day for another person. It is about how small things in our everyday life could be fixed with good attitude and good humour and Ben personifies the guy who doesn't take offense at anything, loves his work (which is why he returns as an intern to a company now running in a remodelled version of his old workplace - a nice touch to the story). Ben is a great guy who tries to look like the guy next door and it helps that he teaches mannerisms like carrying a handkerchief on you so you could offer it when some lady is crying. From start to finish, the movie shows you how the big problems are rarely about the big problems. There is a lesson here for all of us, Look at your elders and learn from them as the movie tagline says "Experience never gets old"
Overal this is very sappy, cliche but in a good way, enjoyable, predictable, and sweet story. Dont expected anything but this is pretty entertaining, I like it.
7.5/10 IMDb
59% Rotten Tomatoes
51% Metacritic
7.5/10 Verdict
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