The Intern 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review
4K Ultra HD
Score: 72
from 2 reviewers
Review Date:
A tender comedy elevated by De Niro and Hathaway's performances, The Intern shines in its 4K upscaled transfer—an essential for collectors.
Disc Release Date
2K Upscale
HDR10
Dolby Vision
DTS-HD MA
Video: 91
The Intern's 4K UHD Blu-ray, an upscale from 2K, excels in delivering depth and clarity with a 2160p/HDR transfer, complete with Dolby Vision. Despite some sterile settings, its vibrant colors and stunning detail on a triple-layered 100 GB disc create a visually engaging experience with flawless playback.
Audio: 76
The 4K UHD Blu-ray of 'The Intern' features a straightforward yet robust DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio mix. While not extraordinary, it delivers clear, front-loaded dialogue with well-integrated rear channel use when needed. However, it lacks the expanded audio options present in the original Blu-ray release.
Extra: 36
The 4K UHD Blu-ray extras for 'The Intern' offer a modest yet enjoyable set of features, including a 2018 Blu-ray carry-over: 'Learning from Experience' with cast interviews, 'Designs on Life' with standard insights, and 'The Three Interns' profiling the film's intern characters.
Movie: 66
"The Intern," directed by Nancy Meyers, delivers a predictable yet charming experience with strong performances by De Niro and Hathaway, but suffers from an overly long runtime and some unnecessary plot elements. The film, though enjoyable, may not linger in memory, despite its endearing portrayal of cross-generational friendship.
Video: 91
The 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "The Intern" showcases Warner Bros.' commitment to presenting visually appealing content, even when sourced from a 2K upscale. The 2160p/HDR video, Dolby Vision capable, exceeds expectations, delivering an impressive display of depth and clarity that pushes the boundaries of what upscaled transfers can achieve. Maintaining the film's open-matte 1.78:1 aspect ratio from the 2016 Blu-ray adds to the engulfing viewing experience. Office scenes, dominated by fluorescent lighting, contrast beautifully with warmer, more organically lit settings, enriching the visual palette with saturated colors and controlled contrasts.
The transfer is housed on a triple-layered 100 GB disc, ensuring zero compression artifacts and allowing the film to play flawlessly in its entirety. Fine detail is rendered with stunning accuracy, whether examining facial expressions or encompassing broader scenic elements. The image quality complements the film's aesthetic significantly, with traits such as incredible detail and warm saturation making "The Intern" a standout in its genre.
While the 4K presentation provides a modest upgrade from its Blu-ray precursor, it fulfills the demands of enthusiasts seeking enhanced visual fidelity. Fans will appreciate the refinements in color depth and the meticulous representation of each scene's special details. Although the necessity of a 4K version for this film might be debated, the execution is seamless, offering both long-time fans and newcomers a compelling viewing experience free of any technical complaints.
Audio: 76
Warner Bros.'s 4K UHD Blu-Ray release of "The Intern" retains the DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio mix from the Blu-ray version, delivering a performance that is straightforward yet robust. Although lacking an Atmos remix, the audio presentation compensates with its crisp clarity and active dynamics that aptly serve the film's needs. It's worth noting, however, that this disc does not include the French, Spanish, and Portuguese dubs or the English Descriptive Audio track featured in the Blu-ray version—an unfortunate simplification perhaps motivated by cost-cutting measures, albeit noticeable in a format designed to be region-free.
The DTS-HD 5.1 track predominantly centers on dialogue and is front-heavy, creating a reliable yet unremarkable auditory environment. This focus ensures that vocals are consistently clear and articulate, maintaining precision that complements the film's character-driven narrative. Although not engineered for showcasing high-end sound systems, the audio track is sufficiently dynamic, effectively utilizing rear channels when necessary to deliver a satisfactory listening experience. Consequently, while the audio won't astonish technical audiophiles or home theater enthusiasts seeking to test their setups, it remains adequate for fans of the movie.
Extras: 36
The 4K UHD Blu-ray of "The Intern" features a light yet appealing collection of extras that provide modest insights into the film's behind-the-scenes dynamics. Maintaining a professional touch, the bonus features encompass a series of brief but engaging segments that expand slightly on production elements and character insights. While the features could delve deeper, they nonetheless offer an enjoyable addition for fans and collectors. Particularly noteworthy is the retention of previously released material, ensuring continuity in content availability across different media formats. The absence of a digital copy or a slipcover may disappoint some collectors, but the pressed disc assures quality over burnt alternatives.
Extras included in this disc:
- The Three Interns: A profile focusing on the interns featured in the film.
- Learning from Experience: An electronic press kit with interviews from the cast and crew about the film's creation.
- Designs on Life: A standard featurette with interviews discussing various design aspects within the movie.
Movie: 66
Nancy Meyers' "The Intern" is a film that manages to balance both charm and predictability, delivering a light dramatic comedy that harkens to a more traditional storytelling era. With Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway at the helm, their performances anchor this film, bringing authenticity to a narrative that could have otherwise faltered into unimaginative territory. De Niro embodies Ben Whittaker, a retiree who becomes a senior intern at an online fashion site founded by Hathaway's Jules Ostin. The film cleverly portrays their evolving relationship, underscored by Ben’s old-school work ethic contrasting with Jules' modern business acumen.
Despite its engaging leads, "The Intern" is not without its pitfalls. At over two hours long, the narrative occasionally plods, weighed down by superfluous scenes like the unnecessary break-in to Jules' mother's house. Such sequences, while potentially humorous, stray from the film's core and unnecessarily extend the runtime. Additionally, a certain plot twist involving a secondary character feels extrinsic and disrupts the character's established sincerity. These elements detract slightly from an otherwise consistent flow, leading to an ending that feels somewhat precipitous and lacking in definitive resolution.
Nevertheless, the strength of "The Intern" lies in its performances and character interactions, which compensate for its structural shortcomings. Hathaway shines in a role often criticized unfairly, with De Niro providing a comforting presence that bolsters the film. Although it may not break new ground or linger long in one's memory post-viewing, it offers sufficient entertainment and exploration of themes such as mentorship, leadership challenges, and personal growth. As such, while it has its flaws, "The Intern" remains a genuinely enjoyable experience, recommended for casual viewing rather than intense scrutiny.
Total: 72
Nancy Meyers' "The Intern" emerges as a distinguished piece within the realm of light-hearted, platonic comedies, driven by the heartfelt performances of Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway. The film has consistently captured audiences with its charming narrative that veers away from predictable romantic tropes, focusing instead on a nuanced portrayal of friendship and personal growth. While the storyline could be described as somewhat predictable, this aspect is overshadowed by its warmth and comedic appeal, making it a refreshing entry in today's cinematic landscape.
The 4K UHD Blu-ray of "The Intern" provides an impressive visual experience that elevates the film's aesthetic value significantly. Warner Bros’ upscaled 4K transfer distinguishes itself as one of the best on the market, offering sharp image quality that enhances detail and color depth, giving new life to the well-crafted set designs and character expressions. Beyond its visual upgrade, the UHD edition maintains consistency in audio and supplementary features seen in previous releases, presenting a robust package for both first-time viewers and long-standing fans.
In conclusion, while "The Intern" may not inherently expand a viewer’s emotional or intellectual boundaries, it represents an enjoyable viewing experience for those seeking comfort and humor. Its UHD release stands as the definitive edition for home enthusiasts passionate about building a high-quality collection. For fans and aficionados alike, this version undeniably holds its own with superior visual enhancements, ensuring that "The Intern" continues to be a delightful choice for casual and frequent rewatches alike.
Blu-ray.com review by Randy Miller IIIRead review here
Video: 100
It's also part of the reason why this film has been authored on a full-strength triple-layered (100 GB) disc, one that features absolutely zero noticeable compression artifacts and simply lets everything...
Audio: 80
Warner Bros. presents The Intern with the same straightforward but robust DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio mix found on their Blu-ray; I can't imagine that an Atmos remix would've added all that much to the proceedings,...
Extras: 30
This one-disc MOD (pressed, not burnt) release ships in a standard keepcase with recycled cover artwork and no slipcover or Digital Copy are included....
Movie: 70
Perhaps a slight outlier among Warner Bros.' three new 4K MOD upgrades this month (the other two being Vacation and Tag), Nancy Meyers' comparatively more mature romantic friendship comedy The Intern wrings...
Total: 70
All other aspects remain the same so, while casual fans may not consider this a "must-have", it's clearly the strongest home video edition available....
Blu-ray Authority review by Matt Brighton and Matt MaloufRead review here
Video: 90
Colors are always deep and accurate, facial expressions and features show strong detail and clarity....
Audio: 80
Again, don’t expect this disc to be used to show off your system, but it still serves the film well....
Extras: 50
Designs on Life – Another fairly standard featurette that doesn’t offer a lot of insight into the film, but has some talking heads and what not....
Movie: 0
Some might find the sequence amusing, but it feels largely unnecessary and only adds to the already long running time....
Total: 70
It’s flawed and fairly predictable, but it’s also the sweet kind of film that we don’t see a lot of anymore....
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