Gentle, beautiful hipster meditation on age and love

ROBERT de Niro and Anne Hathaway in a

film entitled The Intern makes you wonder whether Devil Wears Prada 2.0 has arrived. But, this is the opposite in more ways than one.

He is the intern at her internet start-up and the only bitchiness on display happens on the playground. The trending styles are more apparent in what computers get used in the office than what people wear (it’s casual day all day at this office) and this online fashion store is more about what people are looking for than telling them what they should wear.

The film is charming and succeeds mostly on the charm of the two leads.

De Niro is 70-year-old widower Ben Whittaker, bored out of his skull by retire-ment. He answers an advert for a senior internship and grabs the opportunity to go back to work. De Niro underplays it to the point of being the coolest dude around.

Appointed personal intern to the boss lady, Jules Ostin (Hathaway), Ben quietly makes friends with everyone and basically turns into everyone's favourite uncle.

Jules moves fast and thinks faster – a hands-on boss with not enough time in the day. So, this being a film, we are not too surprised when Ben's steady demeanor and attentiveness starts making an impression on Jules. Hathaway also doesn’t overplay her hand, going for earnest, well-meaning and aware of her flaws. The character micro-manages but does so in a pleasant manner and her colleagues seem to like her.

What is a pleasant surprise is that the film’s dialogue is fresh and the funny lies not in slapstick humour, but in the interchanges between the people.

Ben questioning the behaviour of his co-workers is less querulous old person and more genuine curiosity, while the hipsters start to lean on his experience, making him feel wanted.

There is also a cutie pie of a little kid but most of the characters in the office aren’t total cookie cutter stereotypes.

De Niro and Hathaway develop a warm, unforced rapport and their relationship is believable, even as her not recognising his valuable business experience is not – but it is a necessary plot point that she stay defensive or there would be no tension in the story.

The film is bright and breezy, light and not serious, but it does get in a bit of a dig at the Hollywood sausage factory. Like Ben’s relationship with a more age-appropriate office masseuse (played by Russo), the film has an important message about anti-age discrimination, even when it falters a bit on the gender politics. Jules’ stay at home husband and how they are dealing with the fall-out 18 months into the change in status is just way too pat.

The Intern carries a huge dollop of romance in terms of the presentation – not only the soft light of the cinematography, but in how even-keeled everyone is.

This is also decidedly the more glamorous, hipster side of New York, with gorgeous brownstone houses filled with light and magazine shoot worthy furniture. The office too is filled with silver Apple Macs, lots of light and the factory workers Jules visits not only know the boss, but are happy to see her.

It could so easily have turned into a farce, but director Nancy Meyers has gone for an intelligent character study instead, concentrating on the unexpected friendship and how it makes the two people grow. It is entertaining and aimed at adults.

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