The Intern (I) (2015)

Plot Summary
70-year-old widower Ben Whittaker has discovered that retirement isn't all it's
cracked up to be. Seizing an opportunity to get back in the game, he becomes a s
enior intern at an online fashion site, founded and run by Jules Ostin.
Synopsis for
The Intern (2015/I)
Senior citizen Ben (Robert DeNiro) shoots a video resume for an intern job he wa
nts. He's responding to a flyer asking for senior citizens to apply for an inter
nship via a video stating why they should be hired. He says he's a 70-year-old w
idower living a comfortable life but feels he needs to be more productive. He ge
ts a call for an interview.
The company is called 'About The Fit' and is run by Jules Ostin (Anne Hathaway).
Originally started from her kitchen, the online clothes retailing company now h
as gained more than 200 employees since it's founding only 18 months. We first s
ee Jules answering a customer service call from a bride complaining that her bri
desmaids dresses are the wrong color. Jules takes full responsibility, is very h
elpful, promises to fix the glitch and even gives her own number to the bride. S
he moves around in her office on a bike, rarely has time to stop and celebrate c
o-workers birthdays in the office or have a complete conversation with her mothe
r.
At his interview with a series of people, Ben reveals that he used to work for a
company that made phone books. The interviewer (Nat Wolff) also asks him where
he see himself in the next ten years and then realizes the question really doesn
't apply. He tells him that he did great in his interviews and video and is quit
e overqualified for the job.
Jules co-worker Cameron (Andrew Rannels) informs her that Ben is going to be her
intern, and they had jointly agreed to the outreach program a few month ago. Sh
e asks and is advised that the minimum time for her to put up with him is six we
eks, since she has to make an example.
Ben takes care to dress impeccably for his first day at work. Jason (Adam Devine
) shows him and three other interns (two senior citizens including Celia Watson
as Doris, and a young man, Zack Pearl as Davis). While Davis sets up his table w
ith various gadgets, Ben's table has basic stationery and a simple calculator an
d watch. The other employees are friendly and help him start up the computer.
He is informed by Jules assistant Becky that he has a meeting with her at exactl
y 3.55 pm, and he should be prompt because there's another meeting at 4:00 pm. B
ecky also tells him to talk fast and blink a lot, because her boss is disturbed
by people who do not. In the meeting, Jules informs him that she will not have m
uch for him to do. However, she will email him if something comes up.
He does not hear from her for a few days. Nonetheless he makes himself productiv
e, getting to know the ropes around the place and learning how to deal with the
technology. He helps whomever he can and is referred of Mr. Congeniality by Came
ron. In addition, he also gives old school sensible advice to the youngsters whe
n they need it, such as telling Jason to talk properly to Becky for cheating on
her since his evasive text messages did not get any response.
His first task assigning email is from Becky, asking him to have Jules jacket cl
eaned. She spilled soy sauce on it, but she's wearing it and he has to get it fr
om her. In the office, Cameron is telling Jules that their investors think that

its all going too fast at About The Fit and a seasoned CEO could handle affairs
better and help them keep up with their success. Ben overhears this. Jules is cl
early upset at the thought of having a boss although she admits that they have p
roblems. Cameron advises her to look at the list of CEOs they have and take her
time to meet them and decide on one.
Ben starts to be noticed more and more around the office especially after he is
lauded by having a bell rung for him (an office practice to highlight good perfo
rmance) for clearing out a desk that was the office dumping spot and routinely g
ot on Jules nerves. The office masseuse Fiona (Renee Russo) gives him a massage
and its evident he is attracted to her, as Davis needs to give him a magazine to
put on his lap commenting he is not as old as he thought.
One day Ben notices the driver who drives Jules around drinking on the job and t
ells him to inform Jules he can not drive, or he will have to spill the beans. B
en takes over. She informs him that she can not sit in the front and that she wi
ll be making calls in the back, the contents of which should stay confidential.
Her first call is from her mother who informs her that women who sleep less are
more likely to gain weight. They clearly don't have a great equation. She calls
Cameron next and tells him she is meeting one of the CEOs on the list. The meeti
ng is very short. Cameron isn't convinced she is really trying. Ben has meanwhil
e bought her a cup of soup having realized that she hadn't eaten. While dropping
her at home, he tells her he believes she should rest more and when she is in d
oubt she should remember that she started the company from nothing.
At home, we see her daughter Paige and husband Matt, who is a stay at home dad.
He looks disappointed the CEO thing did not work out. He is very involved, and t
heir daughter seems loved and happy. Jules falls asleep in her daughter's bed, a
nd when she returns to her own, Matt is asleep and too tired to make love.
Becky calls Ben the next morning telling him Jules driver is not responding to h
er calls, and he needs to pick her. Matt invites Ben in for a coffee while he wa
its. Paige and Matt seem to like him. Ben quietly observes the dynamics at home
and the school playground where the other moms seem to look down on Jules for be
ing a busy career woman while she is dropping Paige. Later on, she handles a sit
uation at their warehouse, and he seems impressed.
Ben goes to see Fiona at her office
es it for a blow job and runs away.
to an address he thinks may be Jay
on also seems to have made progress
gested.

where she gives him a foot rub. Davis confus

Lewis (Jason Orley) has to deliver a package
Z's, and Ben gives him sartorial advice. Jas
with Becky after talking to her like Ben sug

One day while Jules is working late, and Ben is working on his computer waiting
around to drop her home, she brings over her pizza to talk and eat with him. He
asks her about a meeting she had with another CEO that didn't go too well either
. He tells her about his previous employment, which was actually in the same bui
lding before phone books became redundant altogether. They bond, and she helps h
im set up his Facebook account, and friends him, finding out more about him in t
he process.
The next day, Doris comes to pick her up. The minimum period she had to put up w
ith an intern, six weeks, is over, and Ben has been transferred. Doris can not d
rive, and Jules takes over, while calling Cameron asking for Ben back. She goes
to find him in a coffee shop where he is picking up coffee for the department he
currently works at. She helps him with the coffee, apologizes, tells him she fe
els calmer in his presence and offers him his old job back. She also moves him c
loser to her work space, right next to Becky. Becky starts crying because she is
already overwhelmed with her workload and is threatened by the new development
as she is a Business graduate from Penn, who can't seem to do anything right. Ja

son steps in to comfort her and gives her Ben's hanky, while Ben calms her down,
so she isn't threatened by him.
Ben begins to give insightful opinions and shows that he has useful experience.
Jules gives him more and more responsibility, surprising Cameron. Ben also point
s out Becky's input and degree encouraging Jules to say something nice to Becky.
Davis, who had a deadline for moving out from his parents, declares he is movin
g to Philadelphia to crash with his cousin. Realizing his commute will be crazy,
Ben offers him a room in his house. He is impressed with Ben's house and wardro
be, especially his affinity for handkerchiefs which Ben insists gentlemen must c
arry.
The next morning at Jules, Matt turns down a trip to San Francisco where Jules h
as to meet a CEO on account of school activities Paige is looking forward to. Ju
les has a work crisis to deal with, during which a phone call from her mother ma
kes her mad. She writes a ranting email about her mother to Matt but accidentall
y sends it to her mom. She asks her coworkers to do something about it. Ben volu
nteers to go to her mother's house and delete it from her laptop before she come
s back from work at 5.30 pm. Jason, Davis and Lewis accompany him and after some
glitches they get the job done. That night Jules takes them out for drinks and
gets to know them for the first time. Meanwhile, Ben and Fiona have gotten close
.
When Ben goes to pick up Jules the morning after that, he finds Matt sick and Pa
ige in tears at the prospect of going to a party with a sitter, so he agrees to
take her instead. In a very dignified manner, he defends Jules career and profes
sionalism in front of the catty moms making it sound like partly their victory t
hat one of their own made it so big.
Paige is not feeling well, so they leave the party early. However, he finds that
Matt was faking his illness to meet another mom who he is clearly having an aff
air with. Since Paige is asleep, Ben waits for Matt's return and drops a sleepin
g Paige off when he is back. Matt asks Ben's take on the CEO situation saying he
hopes it will be good for them. Ben replies that that a CEO will not be able to
fix what is wrong in their house. Matt seems unnerved, but back at the office (
where Jules is finally part of a coworkers birthday celebrations) Ben is in wors
e shape as his blood pressure acts up, and his co-workers show concern for his h
ealth.
They take off for San Francisco the next day. Jules tells him she knows there's
something he isn't telling her since he doesn't look directly at her and blinks
little. He admits to being a softy despite his manly exterior and suggests they
enjoy their first class plane ride.
That night a fire alarm goes off in their hotel. When Ben escorts Jules back to
her room, it is clear she wants company. She invites him in and asks him about h
is marriage, eventually confiding in him that she found out 18 days ago that Mat
t was cheating on her. Ben told her he saw them the previous day as Juke's break
s down. He comforts her and tells her she should only hire the CEO if she wants
to, not for anyone else, and she should be able to have both a great career and
a good marriage.
The next day, her meeting with the CEO takes longer than most of her meetings so
far. When she is done, she tells Ben that she hired him on the spot, though the
CEO told her to sleep on it. Back at home she informs Matt and tells him she th
inks it will be great for us. He asks who the us refers to, and she clarifies th
at she meant Jules and Matt, not About The Fit. However, she breaks down as she
is taking a bath that night, showing she is clearly unhappy with her decision.
She visits Ben in the morning, and is pleasantly surprised to see Davis and then

Fiona emerge from his apartment. She tells him it still feels like it is a righ
t decision. He recalls the time at the warehouse and tells her no one will have
the commitment she has to her company, even if they have more experience. He doe
sn't see how giving up her company in hopes that her husband will stop having an
affair adds up, and tells her she came here because she wanted to hear it. She
adds that it is also because he is her best friend.
The bridesmaid from the customer service call she took at the beginning of the m
ovie has sent her pictures of the bridal party and a thank you note. Also, the C
EO she met in San Fransisco sent her some flowers. She asks Becky to put him on
the phone in a decisive voice. Just then, Matt walks in saying she should not hi
re the CEO for him. She needs to do what's right for her. She informs him that s
he is aware of his affair as he is about to admit to it and asks if it is over.
They recommit to each other and promise to do better. Jules tells him she was go
ing to call the CEO and tell him that she changed her mind. They kiss. She goes
after Ben to tell him that she changed her mind, to find him in a Tai Chi group.
She joins him, finally letting herself relax.