The Intern 2015 FilmEdit

The Intern is a 2015 American comedy-drama film directed by Nancy Meyers and led by a pair of high-profile performances from Robert De Niro as Ben Whittaker and Anne Hathaway as Jules Ostin. The story follows a 70-year-old widower who, seeking purpose after retirement, becomes a senior intern at About the Fit, a rapidly growing online fashion retailer founded and run by Ostin. Set against the backdrop of a tech-driven startup ecosystem, the film blends warmth, humor, and a practical case for intergenerational collaboration in the modern workplace. It presents a case for character-based leadership, hard work, and personal responsibility as core engines of a successful business.

The film’s premise centers on the clash and eventual complementarity of two generations, with Ben’s old-school work ethic and people-first approach testing—and ultimately supporting—Jules’s high-velocity, hands-on management style. The interwoven dynamic underscores a broader argument popular in traditional business circles: that experience and steadiness can temper the volatility of rapid innovation, while fresh energy and digital know-how can keep a company nimble. The movie is also a portrait of entrepreneurship under pressure, showcasing the daily decisions that keep About the Fit competitive in a crowded online marketplace. In this sense, The Intern can be read as a celebration of merit, responsibility, and pragmatic leadership in a capitalist economy.

Overview

Plot and premise: Ben Whittaker is a veteran of the workforce who joins About the Fit as a senior intern, working alongside a diverse team led by Jules Ostin, a dynamic founder and CEO. The film follows how their differing life experiences inform management decisions, product strategy, and workplace culture.
Cast and characters: In addition to De Niro and Hathaway, the ensemble includes a range of colleagues, investors, and staffers who populate a modern e-commerce environment. The interplay between leadership, mentorship, and collaboration is a throughline, with several supporting characters representing different facets of a growing business. See Rene Russo and Andrew Rannells in supporting roles, among others.
Setting and tone: The film situates a traditional businessperson within a contemporary, digital enterprise, illustrating how older workers can contribute meaningfully to teams driven by data, speed, and customer-centric goals. The tone leans toward accessible, character-driven storytelling rather than technical theater, aiming to connect with a broad audience of professionals and nonprofessionals alike.

Production and Reception

Production context: The Intern marks a continuation of Meyers’s signature approach to relatable, character-driven storytelling set within aspirational domestic settings. The visuals, pacing, and humor are calibrated to emphasize interpersonal dynamics as much as plot mechanics.
Release and reception: Released in 2015, the film drew audiences seeking light entertainment anchored by strong performances and a humane portrayal of work life. Critics offered mixed assessments, praising the performances and the emphasis on mentorship while noting that some elements of the workplace portrait felt idealized or overly sentimental. Supporters argue that the film provides a constructive counter-narrative to cynicism about corporate life, highlighting the dignity of work and the value of cross-generational collaboration. See also Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic for contemporary reception summaries.

Themes and Debates

Intergenerational Collaboration

The core premise centers on how experience and energy can complement one another in the workplace. Ben’s steady, people-centered approach often fills gaps in a fast-moving startup culture, while Jules’s drive and risk-taking push the company forward. This gives rise to debates about the proper balance between veteran mentorship and youthful innovation, with the film presenting a pragmatic synthesis rather than a zero-sum dynamic.

Entrepreneurship and Corporate Culture

The film depicts a startup environment where leadership must navigate budget constraints, growth targets, and customer expectations. From a traditional business angle, The Intern reinforces the value of tangible leadership qualities—reliability, accountability, and a willingness to roll up one’s sleeves. Proponents argue the movie’s focus on productive work habits and practical problem-solving aligns with a conservative emphasis on merit and achievement in private enterprise.

Some critics from other viewpoints argued the portrayal risks sanitizing the more difficult realities of scaling a business in a competitive market. From a right-of-center perspective, such critiques are seen as overblown concerns about realism; the film’s emphasis on character and responsibility is presented as a meaningful, non-political narrative about making a business work.

Gender and Leadership

Jules Ostin’s leadership embodies a modern, high-velocity CEO archetype who must manage growth, staff, and investor expectations. The portrayal aligns with a worldview that leadership ability is merit-based and not constrained by gender. Advocates for this view applaud the film for offering a credible, aspirational portrayal of female entrepreneurship that centers on competence and results rather than identity politics. Critics, however, sometimes argue that such depictions should more fully grapple with structural challenges women face in business, a conversation that The Intern touches upon only indirectly. From the perspective favored here, the film’s merit lies in demonstrating leadership capacity and private-sector problem-solving rather than pandering to any particular political framework.

Work Ethic and Social Harmony

The film’s tone elevates a measured, service-oriented approach to work—the idea that one can find purpose through contribution to a team, customers, and the broader mission of a business. This resonates with a broad audience that prioritizes practical outcomes and personal responsibility over ideological theater. In debates about work-life balance, mentors like Ben are framed as a stabilizing force who push for a humane, efficient workplace without sacrificing the core goal of delivering value to customers and shareholders.