Whether they choose to admit it, every girl loves a good chick flick. To me, a "good chick flick" makes you smile, makes you tear up a handful of times, and gives you a warm, sentimental feeling before it's even over. If it's really good, you'll probably even wish your life was exactly like the main character's in the movie.
However, a lot of the times the only storyline is about how a man can win over a woman, allowing them to fall madly in love, be together forever, and all of that fluffy stuff. "The Intern" gives you all of the feelings you want in a chick flick without succumbing to themes of male dominance. If you haven't seen it, let me try to explain how this is done without giving away too many dirty details.
The 2015 flick, directed by Nancy Meyers, stars Anne Hathaway and Robert De Niro. The characterization of Hathaway's character, Jules, is crucial to the refreshingly modern plot. Jules is married, has two adorable kiddos, and not to mention is the CEO of a very successful online shopping company. It's not every day that you see a character in a movie play this type of role. Not only is she a jack of all trades, but she is beautiful and feminine. However, she works a lot and is constantly checking her email, which sometimes causes her to have to sacrifice her children and her marriage.
That's where the men's roles come into play. De Niro's character, Ben, is a kind, passionate widow who wants to spend his retirement contributing to society through an unpaid internship. His internship just so happens to be at Jules' company. So here you have a seventy-something year old man working for a thirty-year old something, and not getting paid a dime for it. Pretty cool, huh? He drives her kids around, brings her coffee, and encourages her to stay committed to her job even when things get tough.
At one point, he also keeps Jules' husband from slipping through the cracks when he feels as if his masculinity is being threatened. If it weren't for Ben, Jules would not be able to be the awesome, motherly, executive Super Woman she become in the end. He represents a modern version of chivalry, which allows a man to wipe her tears and hold the car door open while also staying at home to watch the kids while she is busy doing what she loves.
Overall, "The Intern" is pleasantly offbeat. Not only is it awesome to see a professional woman portrayed in realistic but glorified role, but the impact that men can have on a woman's success. The overall message is that hard work will take you places, no matter what your gender is or how old you are. Hopefully, in the next several years we will see more of these themes in the media, especially in movies and televisions. It's modern chick flicks such as this one that will start conversations about gender, and those conversations are what will make a positive influence in society.
