Robert De Niro Proves It’s Never Too Late to Start Over in ‘The Intern’

Sandra Miska

Is there an age limit when it comes to pursuing one’s dreams?  Not for Robert De Niro in the comedy “The Intern.”  De Niro plays Ben Whittaker, a 70-year-old widower.  Bored with retirement, he decides to get back in the game and take a senior intern position at an online fashion website.  He soon finds himself working for a woman almost young enough to be his granddaughter, fashionista and C.E.O. Jules Ostin (Anne Hathaway), who is also a young mother.

Ben quickly wins over Jules with his charm, wisdom and sense of humor.  After investors start to question Jules’s experience, Ben becomes her unlikely ally.

Adam Devine and Zack Pearlman play Jules and Ben’s quirky co-workers, while Rene Russo plays Ben’s love interest Fiona.  De Niro’s real-life daughter, Drena De Niro, makes a cameo as a hotel manager.  Tina Fey and Reese Witherspoon were both attached to the role of Jules at different times during pre-production.

“The Intern” was written and directed by Nancy Meyers, the woman behind classic female-driven comedies such as “It’s Complicated,” “Something’s Gotta Give,” and “The Holiday.”  Meyers broke into the business 35 years ago with her screenplay for the Goldie Hawn military comedy “Private Benjamin.”  Her films often feature her signature shot of a man and woman lying side by side in bed together.

Meyers, now 65, recently described to The New York Times how she had to conduct more research than usual before writing the screenplay for “The Intern.”

“I’m not 32 with a child like Anne’s character,” she said.  “I’m not retired like Bob’s.  I don’t know how the tech world works.”

Her research included spending time at female-run e-tailers.

Next up, Hathaway will be reprising her role as the White Queen in the “Alice in Wonderland” sequel “Alice Through the Looking Glass.”  De Niro is slated to portray Wall Street swindler Bernie Madoff in the upcoming HBO film “The Wizard of Lies.”

“The Intern” opens Sept. 25 nationwide.