The Internship

I would like to make it completely plain that I normally do not like this type of American comedy film. I often find (sadly in the case of most American comedies) that whilst they might be "watchable" the attempted humour is just too brash, too abrasive and completely without subtlety, which often just doesn't sit well with me.

Yet after quite a drawn out, perforated period of exposure, I finally watched The Internship from start to finish. I'm not quite sure what, but there is something about it that sets it slightly apart from the pack for me. Maybe it's the unusual setting/premise (the film focusing on two middle-aged washed out salesmen who become interns at Google - Google being used as a lot of the backdrop and setting here) or maybe there was just enough of a fresh tinge to make it interesting.

The Google thing is interesting. How much is based on fact is uncertain, but Google clearly have given enough licence and guidance for the filmmakers to play, and what they have done is done with enough quality, respect and also light-hearted crispness. So much so that the whole "Google feel" of the film, which is certainly a presiding factor, may well be in underlying-theme terms, its actual saving grace.

For in performance terms, the two Interns in question do not always sit well with me either, and so to in this film. Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn are quite chalk and cheese-esque for me, and not in a positive opposites-attract fashion. To my mind, Vaughn is clearly the poorer actor by far. Every other performance I've seen from him over the years has either rendered me rigid with boredom or made me want to slap him. His really does seem to me to be a case of an actor who only knows how to play one part, and he plays it very loudly, very brashly and very unabashedly. Though clearly I am in a minority, as I cannot deny the massive success he has had, but to my mind it is something of a mystery as to how he has achieved such longevity. 

I will concede that there are times that Vaughn drops the apish buffoonery, and tries for a smidge of emotion. This helps, but not nearly enough to excuse Vaughn's overbearing, presumptuous, and sadly clownish presence in this film.

Owen Wilson I can and historically have appreciated more. Yes there have been films of his I have cringed at (You Me and Dupree springs to mind) but there are films he has featured in that I am quite a staunch fan of, such as the Night at the Museum series or Shanghai Noon/Knights.

In The Internship, he to me is easily the better of the star pair. Comedically he is a lot more measured, he is much more focused on his character, and he is much more capable of attempting to convey ranging emotions. Yes, a few times things fall flat and for the first time, certainly in my experience watching Wilson's films, there were a couple of moments (e.g. when watching Wilson's romantic role in this film) where I found myself thinking - "is he getting a bit past this?" Please don't get me wrong- there are times, within the Internship and otherwise, I think Owen Wilson to be great, but I just got a hint of the beginning of age catching up with him and what he is normally used to delivering.

There is no doubt that the Vaughn/Wilson partnership is meant to override any others in The Internship, but the whole idea of them being two in a sea of Google interns/staff does lead to the potential of a supporting ensemble at the very least, and I found theirs to be a very varied set of performances. 

I'm afraid again the negatives outweighed the positives. The presence of Hollywood icons John Goodman and Will Ferrell (however brief) were a complete and utter flop, just solely done for the sake of it. Young actor appearences fell short for me too, such as that of Tobit Raphael who in trying to capture a nervous Asian neurotic over-achiever just bombarded us with woefully executed clichéd and tortured lines and expressions every second he was on screen. Fellow youngster and intern Dylan O'Brien's character was at least intended to be a wayward, apathetic upstart, but he actually seemed to show as little interest in his character as his character did in the plot. Some might say this is great, but I say there is a subtle difference between an actor who tries the utmost and succeeds in appearing not to care, and an actor who just doesn't care. Then there was the "villain" of the piece - Brit Max Minghella who again presented such a lack of conviction it was quite disconcerting, and Rose Byrne who I have enjoyed greatly in other films, but here gave of a horribly exasperating and distinctly over-exaggerated character who verged into the realm of panto in almost every scene she was in.

There were happily however a few choice positives in the cast rosta as well. Stand out intern apart from Wilson for me was Tiya Sircar who was just the right blend of humble, sexy and sassy as Neha Patel. Aasif Mandvi gave a welcome air of quality, and Josh Gad was a surprisingly welcome addition as he was perfectly timed and well executed within the plot.

As I say, if your taste is anything like mine, and if you actually take the time to look at all the different aspects of The Internship then there is a lot to dislike. However as I also say, the general overriding feel of the plot, one that I think is comprised of an unlikely team bonding story, bromance and "Googleiness" does shine through most of the time. I would not blame you if you either disregarded this one as a bad job or stuck with it and declared your allegiance. It is a tough one but I think on balance, I would have to say that I would just about reccomend this film more than I would be inclined to denounce it.