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Columnists Dinner and a Movie Teri Bayus

The Intern — Real, Poignant and Fun

By Teri Bayus ~

The Intern with Robert DeNiro and Anne Hathaway is a perfect movie. Though not a love story, it is filled with love.

With no shoot ‘em ups, sex scenes or bad language, it could be dull for the male folk, but it was not. It was an authentic movie filled with truths and trusts. I loved it.

Nancy Meyers (writer and director) once again gives us a funny, dear and real slice of life that is a pleasure to witness.

The Plot: Robert De Niro plays Ben Whittaker, an older gentleman, a widower, and the kind of man we don’t much see anymore. Every woman who sees the movie will fall a bit in love with him. I did, as he was just like my grandpa.

Anne Hathaway impeccably plays Jules Ostin, as the role of a successful entrepreneur, a working wife, and mom. Every workingwoman will identify with her inner struggles.

Through a community outreach program, Ben finds his away into her company, “About The Fit,” as a senior intern. After impressing some of the much younger employees with his warm sense of humor, his cheery can-do demeanor and proving least likely among his competition to drop dead while on the job.

Despite Jules’ initial chagrin, Ben is assigned directly to her in order to set an example for the rest of the employees in the company. Ben overcomes her reservations with a keen sensitive eye and an unerring professionalism, eventually becoming not just a calming ear amidst the day-to-day chaos at the workplace but also an invaluable source of advice for her professional and personal woes.

De Niro finds a romantic interest in Rene Russo, playing Fiona, an in-house massage therapist. Hathaway is occupied with the possible take over of her company and with the discovery that her husband (Anders Holm) has been cheating on her.

De Niro becomes counselor and confidante, nudging her not to blame her workaholic tendencies for her husband’s infidelity. There is a message of empowerment and encouragement for all career mothers and a slap on the face for their other halves who use that as an excuse to commit adultery.

The story is impeccable, with the practical ending, as life is always more practical than idealistic. The small touches like the housewives who look down upon the working mom and make her feel guilty; the successful aggressive entrepreneur’s fear of hurting her mom; the stay-at-home dad’s end-of-day exhaustion that the working mom does not really understand; and the young boss’ discomfort with her elderly intern. It was all real, poignant and a fun story to watch.

I love this concept. There is a huge talent pool of retired people nobody is willing to hire. The intern’s wisdom and practicality brings a calm and peace to the busy boss’ life. There’s a lesson here for us all here. Look at our elders and learn from them. Stop a while in your busy life to get more out of what the older generation can offer.

Teri Bayus can be reached at: [email protected] or follow her writing and ramblings at: www.teribayus.com. Bayus also hosts Taste Buds, a moving picture rendition of her reviews shown on Charter Ch. 10. Dinner and a Movie is a regular feature of Tolosa Press.

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About the author

Justin Stoner

Justin is a journalist of more than 20 years. He specializes in digital technology and social media strategy. He enjoys using photography and video production as storytelling tools.

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