The Intern Blu-ray Review
Score: 64
from 3 reviewers
Review Date:
Charming and spirited, 'The Intern' showcases Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway's chemistry in a well-presented Blu-ray with vibrant visuals and clear audio.
Disc Release Date
DTS-HD MA
Video: 76
The Intern's Blu-ray presentation, shot digitally on Arri Alexa, delivers sharp detail and vibrant colors, showcasing meticulous set design and expressive costumes. With a 1080p, AVC-encoded transfer at 1.85:1 aspect ratio, it offers solid blacks, excellent contrast, and no compression issues, despite an underutilized 22.11 Mbps bitrate.
Audio: 68
The Intern's Blu-ray release features a solid 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack, delivering clear dialogue and a well-balanced soundscape with minimal use of LFE. Background ambiance and a mix of score and pop tunes provide subtle rear-channel enhancement, resulting in a crisply rendered, if unremarkable, audio experience.
Extra: 36
The Blu-ray extras for 'The Intern' offer brief insights with Meyers and cast discussing the film's youth-centric themes, set designs, and character dynamics in succinct featurettes, though the selection is notably sparse.
Movie: 63
"The Intern" Blu-ray offers a charming and technically proficient viewing experience, featuring strong performances by De Niro and Hathaway that elevate its cross-generational friendship narrative. Video quality is highly praised for its clarity and vibrant colors, while the audio, though dialogue-focused, is clear and dynamic. The comedic-drama hybrid might not be consistently funny, but the film's heart and positive message shine through. Despite some pacing issues and a somewhat forced ending, it's recommended for a light and enjoyable movie night. Bonus features are minimal but appreciated.
Video: 76
Shot digitally on Arri Alexa XT Plus cameras by Stephen Goldblatt, the Blu-ray presentation of "The Intern" captures the meticulous set design, expressive costumes, and actors' faces immaculately. Presented in its original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1 and encoded with 1080p AVC, the film maintains a vibrant, richly saturated color palette without over-emphasis. Blacks are solid and shadow delineation remains crisp throughout, enhancing both indoor and outdoor Brooklyn scenes. Despite a bitrate of only 22.11 Mbps, the image quality does not exhibit any compression issues, noise, or other artifacts.
Nancy Meyers' attention to production design is unmistakably highlighted through this transfer. With significant white elements in the company setting, the transfer manages to avoid any 'blown out' highlights. The consistency in skin tones and absence of aliasing during intricate pans and car trips add to the visual depth. Sharpness and detail are maintained throughout, showcasing "The Intern" in high definition that accurately reflects Meyers' visual intent. The overall impact is one of a well-balanced and meticulously maintained visual experience that faithfully represents the director's and cinematographer's vision.
Audio: 68
The Blu-ray release of "The Intern" features a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack that effectively handles the film's dialogue-driven and ambient needs. The mix provides a pleasing sense of immersion, particularly within the bustling office environment. The sound design focuses on clear dialogue reproduction and nuanced ambient sounds such as chiming smartphones and background office noise. The soundtrack, composed by Theodore Shapiro, complements scenes with a gentle, reassuring score occasionally interspersed with well-chosen pop tracks like "Boogie Shoes" and "The Girl from Ipanema." Although the dynamic range is typically restrained, there are bursts of activity, such as Busta Rhymes' "Break Ya Neck" that briefly showcase the system’s dynamic capabilities.
While the emphasis remains primarily on front and center channels, the rear channels are subtly engaged to enhance musical elements and ambient effects. Low-frequency effects (LFE) are minimal and virtually unnoticeable but not critical for a film in this genre. Listeners can expect crisp and clean audio quality throughout, with no evident glitches or dropouts. Additionally, the Blu-ray includes a variety of audio options like a 5.1 Dolby Digital English descriptive track and Dolby Digital tracks in French, Spanish (Latin), and Portuguese. Subtitles are available in multiple languages including English SDH, French, Spanish (Latin), and Portuguese, ensuring accessibility for a wide audience.
This release delivers a solid, if understated, auditory experience that aligns well with the film's narrative style. While it may not ‘wow’ audiophiles with show-stopping moments, it presents a well-balanced and faithful reproduction of the film’s soundtrack, enhancing viewer engagement without any significant issues.
Extra: 36
The Blu-ray release of "The Intern" comes with a limited, yet engaging, selection of extras. Each featurette provides concise insights into various aspects of the film's production. "Learning from Experience" highlights insightful commentary from Director Nancy Meyers and key cast members, focusing on the youthful characters and story elements. "Designs on Life" delves into the film's aesthetic under the expertise of set decorators, production and costume designers, enriched by interviews with the crew and cast. "The Three Interns" presents a delightful behind-the-scenes narrative featuring Zack Pearlman, Adam DeVine, and Jason Orley sharing their experiences working with Robert De Niro, despite the title's minor misnomer regarding their roles. Additionally, introductory trailers for other films are included but can be skipped.
Extras included in this disc:
- Learning From Experience: Insights from Meyers and cast on characters and story.
- Designs on Life: Discussion on the film's aesthetic by designers and crew.
- The Three Interns: Behind-the-scenes stories featuring De Niro and co-stars.
- Introductory Trailers: Trailers for "Pan" and "The Iron Giant: Signature Edition".
Movie: 63
Nancy Meyers' "The Intern" stars Robert De Niro as Ben Whittaker, a 70-year-old widower who joins a fashion startup as a senior intern. De Niro's nuanced performance paired with Anne Hathaway's portrayal of the ambitious yet overburdened CEO, Jules Ostin, underscores this film’s exploration of intergenerational friendship and workplace dynamics. The script leans into a charming role reversal, with the elder Ben mentoring youthful employees and, eventually, earning Jules' trust. The film's strength lies in its blend of lighthearted comedy and thoughtful drama, supported by the palpable chemistry between its lead actors.
Visually, the Blu-ray presentation is exceptional, boasting a 1080p AVC encode with an average bitrate of 20 Mbps. The color reproduction, from bright primaries to rich skin tones, is vivid and consistent, while black levels and shadow details enhance both brightly lit and darker scenes. Subtle textures and fine object detail are crisply presented. Complementing the visuals, the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, with an average bitrate of 3.5 Mbps, delivers clear dialog and a well-balanced soundstage. The soundtrack’s dynamism is geared towards enhancing the film’s largely dialogue-driven narrative rather than action sequences.
"The Intern" benefits significantly from Meyers’ direction and her ability to extract excellent performances from a diverse cast. While there are comedic elements, this film leans more towards drama than the marketing suggests. Despite some stretches in pacing, particularly in the first half, the engaging interplay between De Niro’s understated portrayal of Ben and Hathaway’s energetic Jules drives the narrative forward. The Blu-ray package is augmented by a small suite of bonus features, including several featurettes that provide additional context to the film’s production and character development. Although not a must-buy for all, it’s a worthwhile rental for those seeking feel-good entertainment with a heartwarming touch.
Total: 64
"The Intern" Blu-ray Disc, released on January 19, 2016, offers a compelling mix of lighthearted charm and seasoned performances. Starring Robert De Niro as Ben Whittaker, a 70-year-old widower stepping into the modern workforce as an intern, and Anne Hathaway as Jules Ostin, the driven CEO of a fashion startup, the film focuses on their evolving friendship and mutual growth. Directed by Nancy Meyers, known for her adept storytelling in people-centric dramedies, the film explores themes of generational wisdom and modern-day career challenges.
In terms of technical quality, the Blu-ray release features superb 1080p AVC encoded video with an average bitrate of 20 Mbps and lossless DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio. The video boasts vibrant colors, balanced contrast, and lifelike complexions. The audio presentation, while primarily dialogue-driven, is crisp with excellent vocal reproduction and a well-balanced front-oriented surround mix. At a comparative rating of 80 for audio and 94 for video, it aligns with high standards expected of new releases in this format.
The Blu-ray includes basic bonus content such as short featurettes ("Learning From Experience," "Designs on Life," and "The Three Interns"), along with a bonus DVD and Digital HD Copy. While these extras may seem sparse, the overall package still delivers substantial value.
In conclusion, "The Intern" stands as an engaging and spirited comedy suitable for fans of either Robert De Niro or Anne Hathaway. The film’s core message about learning across generations transcends its conventional narrative, making it an appealing watch for a broad audience. Although it may not warrant repeated viewings for everyone, it certainly earns a strong rental recommendation for its charming performances and high-quality production values in the Blu-ray format.
Blu-ray.com review by Michael ReubenRead review here
Video: 90
The division of Warner Home Video that handles new releases seems to be lagging behind the catalog division and Warner Archive Collection, because The Intern has been mastered with a bitrate of only 22.11...
Audio: 80
Occasionally there's a loud enough moment to display the track's dynamic range (a memorable one involves Busta Rhymes "Break Ya Neck" at high volume), but otherwise the mix is restrained....
Extras: 30
Designs on Life (1080p; 1.85:1; 6:07): Set decorators Susan Bode and Beth Rubino, production designer Kristi Zea, costume designer Jacquelin Demetrio, various cast members and Meyers herself discuss the...
Movie: 70
Eventually, Jules herself comes around, discovering in Ben a valuable friend and confidant, as she struggles to manage the demands of sudden success....
Total: 70
But fairy tales don't connect unless they contain an element of truth, and beneath the glossy surface of Meyers' work, there's always a real-life foundation that prevents the feel-good story from slipping...
High-Def DigestRead review here
Video: 80
Movies that take place in the city and feature a lot of pans, car trips, and establishing shots like 'The Intern' almost always seem to suffer from a touch of aliasing here and there in HD, but I detected...
Audio: 80
For a 'comedy' (again, I use that word loosely, since I really believe this is more of a drama), 'The Intern' features a lot more talking and less activity than an average film in the genre, resulting...
Extras: 0
– A short promotional piece for the movie, which talks a little bit about the plot and features comments from Director Nancy Meyers and stars Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway....
Movie: 60
It's only in the film's second hour that things really start to become meaningful, and viewers who struggle through the first half will find themselves rewarded by 'The Intern's strong second act....
Total: 60
Although I think it's been improperly promoted and labeled as a 'comedy', 'The Intern' is a pleasant enough movie, although most won't have a desire to watch it again after one viewing....
AVSForum review by Ralph PottsRead review here
Video: 94
Audio: 80
The lossless DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack is more than capable of handling the elements present in this dialogue driven comedy and sound excellent overall....
Extras: 50
(HD) Learning From Experience – 4 minute featurette (HD) Designs on Life – 6 minute featurette (HD)...
Movie: 70
The lossless DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack is more than capable of handling the elements present in this dialogue driven comedy and sound excellent overall....
Total: 74
The lossless DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack is more than capable of handling the elements present in this dialogue driven comedy and sound excellent overall....
Director: Nancy Meyers
Actors: Robert De Niro, Anne Hathaway, Rene Russo
PlotA 70-year-old widower, Ben Whittaker, seeks to reinvigorate his life after retirement by joining an e-commerce fashion startup as a senior intern. The company is run by Jules Ostin, a driven and successful young entrepreneur juggling the pressures of her expanding business and family life. Initially skeptical of Ben's usefulness, Jules reluctantly pairs him with her overworked team, hoping he won't be a burden. Contrary to her concerns, Ben's experience, wisdom, and calm demeanor quickly endear him to his colleagues, and he becomes a valuable asset to the company.
As Ben settles into his role, he forms a unique bond with Jules, bringing a stabilizing presence to her stressful professional and personal challenges. This new friendship allows Jules to start seeing her work and life from a different perspective. As they grow closer, Ben provides not only practical help but emotional support, helping Jules navigate the complexities of leadership and work-life balance. The newfound camaraderie enriches both their lives, highlighting the mutual benefits that can arise when different generations collaborate.
Writers: Nancy Meyers
Release Date: 25 Sep 2015
Runtime: 121 min
Rating: PG-13
Country: United States
Language: English, Japanese