As a once hip Baby Boomer who has had to reluctantly acknowledge that things ain’t the way they used to be, never will be again, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing, I’m a big fan of media that helps people like me cope in the workplace. I’m talking about TV shows like Younger, books like The Knockoff and my own book on the subject; Career Comeback–Repackage Yourself to Get the Job You Want. (Please excuse the shameless plug). Now you can add The Intern to that list. It’s a New York story about love and loss and trying to have it all at any age.

It’s always a pleasure to see Anne Hathaway in anything she does, especially here, as Jules, the impatient, all-business rockstar head of an online clothing company. It’s a fun twist on the role she played in The Devil Wears Prada. This time Hathaway is the Meryl Streep character, the twist being that Robert DiNero, as  Ben, is her beleaguered underling.

It seems Jules’ successful company has decided to implement a “Senior Intern” program, and Ben, a retired business executive, is looking for something useful to do with his time. Although DiNero verges on being a little too soft and squishy, he plays the perfect gentleman mentor/father figure. You do get a brief glimpse of him being vaguely threatening, and I think the film would have been more interesting if there was a bit more of that.

This is a typical Nancy Meyers film, full of charm and wit and sets that look like they’re about to be photographed for Architectural Digest. She does love her interior design, but then again, so do I, although I couldn’t keep from speculating about how much Jules would have had to spend on that gorgeous Brooklyn townhouse. You’ll recognize the warm, fuzzy feel of It’s Complicated, Something’s Gotta Give and Father of the Bride. If the dramatic arc is more of a speed bump than a curve, I’m inclined to forgive her.

I’m just grateful for a film made for adults that’s beautifully crafted and smart, without characters that it would be politically incorrect to critique. This is the perfect date night film for any one, of any age.

Rated PG-13

2 Hours 1 Minute

Get times and tickets at Fandango.com.

THE INTERN Review — Having It All at Any Age