Robert DeNiro: Who Wouldn’t Want this Intern? The Intern Premieres

You have to love Nancy Meyers for her happy endings, and her optimism about women’s lives. In her latest film confection, The Intern, a laugh-out-loud, melt-in-your-mouth bonbon, the adorable Anne Hathaway plays Jules Ostin, a workaholic founder of a successful women’s wear Internet business housed in a chic downtown loft. Launching a senior intern program for retirees, her company gets Robert DeNiro as Ben Whitaker to play her right hand man. He’s good: patient, kind, understanding, confident, mature, requiring little maintenance except for a foot massage. He solves all her troubles both in and out of work. She learns, in the ultimate women’s fantasy of our time, how to have it all.

A funny movie throughout, the highlights involve a white boy heist in the manner of the Oceans movies, and Celia Weston in the role of a fellow intern, Doris, taking over as chauffeur, not looking or signalling. Linda Lavin, a pushy spurned date, finds out at a funeral that she’s lost her chance with Ben to Renee Russo, the company’s dreamy masseuse with more than gifted hands. 

At the movie’s Ziegfeld premiere, Meyers thanked everyone involved, especially the producers for inviting Mariah Carey. At the after party at Tavern on the Green, Hathaway wearing Rodarte, silver and black off one shoulder, assured everyone, working with DeNiro is like he’s the competent, old school, adorable “intern” all the time.

Regina Weinreich

Graphic Design: Salpeter Ventura