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Internship predictable summer fare
By Lynne Martin
Experience is a valuable asset for any team, unfortunately, when the popular comedic duo of Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson reunited for THE INTERNSHIP (2013), they seemed to be sleepwalking through familiar roles.
With the digital age snapping at their heels, two middle aged watch salesmen find themselves suddenly unemployed with very few promising options. Taking a wild stab at the Google Intern Program, Billy and Nick somehow manage to talk their way past the initial interview and join the ranks of the other ‘Nooglers’, a diverse group of 18 to 25-year-old geniuses. These highly educated young men and women fighting to win a fulltime job within Google’s prestigious ranks will stop at nothing to reach their ultimate goal.
This tried-and-true storyline of nerdy underdogs uniting in competition is not only predictable, it’s downright tedious. The success and rib-tickling laughter we experienced in THE WEDDING CRASHERS will not be found anywhere in THE INTERNSHIP. Within minutes we’re yawning as Owen Wilson begins to hone in on his next sexual conquest while Vince Vaughn once again proves that he’s the backbone uniting the entire team.
Not sure if this movie was supposed to elevate Google’s corporate brand, but other than the ‘Nap-Pods’ which looked quite appealing, THE INTERNSHIP makes one of the world’s most successful and inventive companies look flaky and mean spirited.
Directed by Shawn Levy, this movie had a few laughs, but not nearly enough for two hours of viewing. The required ‘go-out-and-get-the-nerds-drunk’ scene had promise, so if Levy had cut back on the slapstick and kicked up the clever dialogue, the film might have had a fighting chance. As it stands, this predictable summer fare is best left to just blow past. Rated PG-13, 119 mins, Comedy. ** 2 stars out of 5.
– Lynne Martin is an avid movie collector and a staunch supporter of sexual education. She currently resides in Alberta, Canada with her husband and their large extended family. For a complete list of her reviews and other works, or to leave a comment, please go to: www.lynnemartinbooks.com.
