The Intern

Bored, widowed retiree Robert De Niro applies for a post as senior intern at prickly Anne Hathaway’s online fashion firm

Bored, widowed retiree Robert De Niro applies for a post as senior intern at prickly Anne Hathaway’s online fashion firm.

His worldly wisdom and retro suit-and-tie cool quickly wins over his younger male colleagues, but awkward, micro-manager Hathaway proves a tougher nut to crack...

This generation-clash comedy may be set in the up-to-the-minute dot.com world, but it's a defiantly old-fashioned film, the sort of cinematic comfort food that slips down easily with some viewers and proves indigestible to others.

For those in the mood, it's a real treat; cosy, feel-good fare, for sure, but crafted with tender care and good gags by writer-director Nancy Meyers.

The performances are another delight. De Niro tones down the mugging that sometimes mars his comic performances and is full of charm, while Hathaway renders her driven character likeable rather than off-putting.

Yes, the film is a snug fantasy, but the stars' chemistry ensures its portrayal of an intergenerational friendship is touching and fun.