The Intern Blu-ray Review

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.

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.

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".

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.

"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.