All comedy is subjective and is why it is one of the hardest genres to pull off. What makes some laugh may not for others with the success rate not always in the winning margin. The Internship gamely attempts to hit a bullseye on this humorous target. Achieving a few chuckles despite its very basic plot proves that generating mirth is something few comedies realise.
Billy (Vince Vaughn) and Nick (Owen Wilson) are friends working in the same company. When technology makes their positions irrelevant, they find themselves unemployed. Searching for another job they discover an internship program at Google. Vying for a handful of places, they find themselves competing with younger people. Determined the age does not become their barrier, they attempt to win a role with the technological giant any way they can.
Directed by comedy veteran Shawn Levy, The Internship is a no-frills film. Predictable, safe and not particularly amounting to too much, the thinking could be it is a waste of time. That it is not is due to Vaughan and Wilson’s performances. Both bring much needed elements of pathos and energetic drive to their characters. Ignoring the age-ism of their colleagues, their characters’ experience in team-building brings humanity within the huge corporate environment.
This isn’t to say ‘The Internship’ is deep and meaningful, although it pleasingly has some depth. Overall it is very clichéd adhering to a certain comedy formula. It would have been great had all involved done something different although what’s on offer is amiable. Levy directs with some enthusiasm in spite of the overly long run-time. The creaky plot runs out of puff towards the end although Google should be pleased with the free publicity it delivers.
‘The Internship’ is a pretty bland effort walking a familiar path but it offers some amusing moments and says something about the power of experience over the fast moving world of technology.
Reviewed by Patrick Moore
Rating out of 10: 5
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