Review of The Internship (2013) by James W — 18 Jul 2014

Very much similar to Hall Pass, in that the laughs are practically non-existent and the comedy is painfully unfunny, to the point of cringing, my teeth hurt from the amount of gritting I did during this dry feature. Vince Vaughn is actually very annoying in this film and Owen Wilson is at his weakest, a comedy duo like these two should ignite massive fireworks of laughter but the spark fizzles. The premise is surprisingly solid but it's wasted on a chuckle free affair.

Over their lengthy career Billy and Nick have mastered the art of sales but when the digital age takes over their day-job they find themselves out of work and desperate to make ends meet, so when an internship at Google pops up they take it only to discover they are the oldest in the internship, surrounded by aspiring young teens. Now Billy and Nick need to make an impression and master technology. I like the story but it's reduced down to a bunch of nonsensical montages, a tonne of trash talking from Vince Vaughn, Owen Wilson's comedic talent is on a low and the plot has no focus, where is the story going? Plus it runs in at two hours which is ridiculous and even more worrying when the majority of the film runs on empty. The stunning and talented Rose Byrne makes an appearance, boasting her good looks and some witty humour but she's not a huge part, she is the lone bright light here.

I like Shawn Levy's films which include The Pink Panther, Real Steel and Date Night, a lot of his films look great from a camerawork point of view and craft plus entertainment value but he's done a dud or two and this is one of them. Avoid if you can, if you end up with it you're in for a long haul.