The Internship (2013) - Shawn Levy

Billy and Nick are two successful salesman who find themselves out of a job only because of the digital age.  Jobless and without any tech skills they are desperate.  In a last ditch effort to make something of their lives, the pair apply to Google, going into their internship program which inevitably changes their lives forever.  Shawn Levy's The Internship is a film that has gotten a bad wrap due to the fact that it is the ultimate product placement film.  The fears are definitely valid and early on I found it quite distracting but it doesn't make the film bad.  Fortunately, after awhile it becomes less problematic because the viewer becomes engrossed in the story.  With the Vince Vaughn & Owen Wilson team one knows what to expect, with plenty of witty banter and Vince Vaughn doing what he does best.  The film isn't hysterical by any stretch but its an enjoyable and surprisingly endearing experience.  As one can imagine our two protagonists are surrounded by young adults, half their age, when they enter the program and early on the film uses this ridiculous generational gap to provide most of the laughs. What's surprising though is how The Internship captures the optimism of society, showing how generations both young and old have different strengths.  We see how Vaughn and Wilson, with their life experience, supply their younger teammates with eternal optimism regarding the ups and downs of life.  In turn, the younger members show them that they are never too old to reach for their dreams.  I make it sound cheesy but the film pulls it off well, with a refreshing amount of optimism that really makes the film an overall pleasurable experience.  Shawn Levy's The Internship is nowhere near a great comedy but I'd be lying if I didn't say I found the whole thing quite endearing.
6.75/10

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