History YMMV / TheIntern

** The Jules's mother's house part of the film is a borderline example. Jules accidentally sends a rude email to her mother. Ben, Davis, Lewis and Jason offer to break into the house and erase it from her mother's computer. While there, the alarm goes off and they panic momentarily when they hear sirens. They manage to get away before the police arrive. It's a rather random slapstick scene against the movie's low-key tone. However it does help progress Jules and Ben's friendship, and the scene in the bar later shows how the workload has made Jules out of touch with her colleagues.

** The disapproving mothers Ben talks to. Do they simply look down on Jules for being a working mother? Or do they know [[spoiler: about Matt's affair (since the woman ''is'' a mother as well)]] and blame Jules for not knowing about it?
** Is Jules really the strong woman she claims to be? Or is she actually a StrawFeminist who styles herself as a strong woman? The way she treats her husband (and by extension other people in general) could also suggest that [[spoiler: Matt cheated on her because he was fed up of her attitude]]. The scene where the other mothers put her down could also be considered an UnreliableNarrator moment. As the women actually dislike her because she treats people poorly, but she believes they only hate her for being a working mother.

* FridgeHorror
** It's said that [[spoiler: the woman Matt has the affair with]] is a mother at their daughter's school. It just makes you wonder if the two had organised play-dates as excuses to see each other. That adds a whole new layer of {{Squick}}, as well as TruthInTelevision.

* UnintentionallyUnsympathetic: Jules, whose character drew a fair amount of criticism. She was intended to be a career woman who is being unfairly judged by others. She ended up coming across to some as a bitter, abrasive StrawFeminist who actually isn't as strong or intelligent as she says she is and makes constant disparaging remarks towards men because of her own insecurities. The dismissive and condescending way she treats her husband could also be interpreted as [[DoubleStandardAbuseFemaleOnMale abusive]] and therefore his [[spoiler: extra-marital affair]] could be seen as a consequence of her behaviour.

* ContrivedCoincidence: Almost halfway through the movie, Ben reveals to Jules that her company just happens to be located in the same building where he previously worked. There's not even a hint of this up until that point, and it never gets mentioned again.
** It is very briefly forshadowed at the start of the film. When first seeing a flyer asking for interns, Ben observes the address and off-handedly says "Isn't that the one on-" before being cut off. Clearly Ben knew the address and that was why he wanted the internship: he knew full well it was his old place of work,

* RelationshipWritingFumble: Although Jules and Ben's friendship is platonic, a couple of scenes do give the impression things are heading in a romantic direction. Namely when she passes out drunk in his arms and shows surprise at Fiona being in his house. Likewise their hotel room scene looks as if it's going to head for Jules making a pass at him. Nothing happens of course but the set up is curious.

** Is Jules really the strong woman she claims to be? Or is she actually a StrawFeminist who styles herself as a strong woman? The way she treats her husband (and by extension other people in general) could also suggest that [[spoiler: Ben cheated on her because he was fed up of her attitude]]. The scene where the other mothers put her down could also be considered an UnreliableNarrator moment. As the women actually dislike her because she treats people poorly, but she believes they only hate her for being a working mother.

* SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped: An old person still has a lot to offer the world, and one can still find new ways to enjoy life even at retirement age.

** Is Jules really the strong woman she claims to be? Or is she actually a StrawFeminist who styles herself as a strong woman? The way she treats her husband (and by extension other people in general) could also suggest that [[spoiler: Ben cheated on her because he was fed up of her attitude.]]. The scene where the other mothers put her down could also be considered an UnreliableNarrator moment. As the women actually dislike her because she treats people poorly, but she believes they only hate her for being a working mother.

* UnintentionallyUnsympathetic: Jules, whose character drew a fair amount of criticism. She was intended to be a career woman who is being unfairly judged by others. She ended up coming across as a bitter, abrasive StrawFeminist who actually isn't as strong or intelligent as she says she is and makes constant disparaging remarks towards men because of her own insecurities. The dismissive and condescending way she treats her husband could also be interpreted as [[DoubleStandardAbuseFemaleOnMale abusive]] and therefore his [[spoiler: extra-marital affair]] could be seen as a consequence of her behaviour.

** Jules is no saint either. Her treatment of Ben can come across as emotional abuse or at the very least unappreciative. However, when we see Jules and Ben together, it's only in the company of others until the final act. This, combined with her dislike of men in general, makes you wonder how she was actually treating him. Also TruthInTelevision as [[DoubleStandardAbuseFemaleOnMale abusive wives]] tend to favor emotional abuse over physical abuse.

* UnintentionallyUnsympathetic: Jules, which is part of the reason why the movie did poorly. She was intended to be a career woman who is being unfairly judged by others. She ended up coming across as a bitter, abrasive StrawFeminist who actually isn't as strong or intelligent as she says she is and makes constant disparaging remarks towards men because of her own insecurities. The dismissive and condescending way she treats her husband could also be interpreted as [[DoubleStandardAbuseFemaleOnMale abusive]] and therefore his [[spoiler: extra-marital affair]] could be seen as a consequence of her behaviour.

** Jules is no saint either. Her treatment of Ben can come across as emotional abuse or at the very least unappreciative. However, when we see Jules and Ben together, it's only in the company of others until the final act. This, combined with her dislike of men in general, makes you wonder how she was actually treating him. Also TruthInTelevision as [[DoubleStandardAbuseFemaleOnMale abusive wives] tend to favor emotional abuse over physical abuse.

* Is Jules really the strong woman she claims to be? Or is she actually a bitter and unlikable person who styles herself as a strong woman? The way she treats her husband (and by extension other people in general) could also suggest that [[spoiler: Ben cheated on her because he was fed up of her attitude.]]. The scene where the other mothers put her down could also be considered an UnreliableNarrator moment. As the women actually dislike her because she treats people poorly, but she believes they only hate her for being a working mother.

* GirlShowGhetto: The film got some rather negative reviews from critics. [[https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/oct/01/the-intern-has-been-panned-by-male-film-critics-why-am-i-not-surprised Clem Bastow suggested]] the majority of hate came from male critics who disliked that the film had a female lead who worked in fashion, and dismissed it as a ChickFlick.

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodCharacter: Jules' mother. We're only given a brief glimpse into Jules' turbulent relationship with her parents despite it clearly being implied as another major cause of stress for Jules. Accidentally sending a venting email to her mother would've made for a great opportunity for the two to finally have a proper confrontation and reconcile their differences, but instead Ben and the young office workers pull off a caper to break into her mother's house and have the message deleted, and the subplot with Jules and her mother just ends there without any further mention.

** While in San Francisco, Jules discusses with Ben [[spoiler: the affair they both know Matt is having. Jules begins to freak out about being buried alone because of a potential divorce and never remarrying. Ben says she can be buried next to Molly and him because he "happens to have space." This plot is either for a second child he and his wife never had, or one he has grown estranged from over the years.]]

** While in San Francisco, Jules discusses with Ben [[spoiler: the affair they both know Matt is having. Jules begins to freak out about being buried alone because of a potential divorce and never remarrying. Ben says she can be buried next to Molly and him because he "happens to have space." This plot is either for a child he and his wife (a beloved middle-school principal) never had, or one he has grown estranged from over the years.]]

* FridgeHorror: It's said that [[spoiler: the woman Matt has the affair with]] is a mother at their daughter's school. It just makes you wonder if the two had organised play-dates as excuses to see each other. That adds a whole new layer of {{Squick}}, as well as TruthInTelevision.

* AlternateCharacterInterpretation:

* CanonSue: Ben is definitely one. He's wise, kind, considerate and seems to be a walking saint. The other characters frequently gush about how perfect he is, and he doesn't appear to have any flaws of his own. Even though he's shown to be a little behind the times on technology, it never hinders him at any point. He also seems to act as a FixerSue for the company. But TropesAreNotBad, as De Niro's performance still manages to make him very likeable.

* GirlShowGhetto: The film got some rather negative reviews from critics. [[http://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/oct/01/the-intern-has-been-panned-by-male-film-critics-why-am-i-not-surprised Clem Bastow suggested]] the majority of hate came from male critics who disliked that the film had a female lead who worked in fashion, and dismissed it as a ChickFlick.

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodCharacter: Jules' mother. We're only given a brief glimpse into Jules' turbulent relationship with her parents despite it clearly being implied as another major cause of stress for Jules. Accidentally sending a venting email to her mother would've made for a great opportunity for the two to finally have a proper confrontation and reconcile their differences, but instead Ben and the young office workers pull off a caper to break into her mother's house and have the message deleted, and the subplot with Jules and her mother just ends there without any further mention. This is made even more puzzling by the fact that Jules' parents are revealed to have ''two'' computers, so it was entirely possible for the second computer to become a ChekhovsGun and continue the dilemma later on.

* FridgeHorror: It's said that [[spoiler: the woman Matt has the affair with]] is a mother at their daughter's school. It just makes you wonder if the two had organised play-dates as excuses to see each other. That adds a whole new layer of {{Squick}}.

* AlternateCharacterInterpretation: Given how quickly Fiona and Ben's relationship progresses, the massage she first gives him could have been her flirting. She notably doesn't seem to mind Ben's RagingStiffie.

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodCharacter: Jules' mother. We're only given a brief glimpse into Jules' turbulent relationship with her parents despite it clearly being implied as another major cause of stress for Jules. Accidentally sending a venting email to her mother would've made for a great opportunity for the two to finally have a proper confrontation and reconcile their differences, but instead Ben and the young office workers pull off a caper to break into her mother's house and have the message deleted, and the subplot with Jules and her mother just ends there without any further mention.
** This is made even more puzzling by the fact that Jules' parents are revealed to have ''two'' computers, so it was entirely possible for the second computer to become a ChekhovsGun and continue the dilemma later on.

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodCharacter: Jules' mother. We're only given a brief glimpse into Jules' turbulent relationship with her parents despite it clearly being implied as another major cause of stress for Jules. Accidentally sending a venting text to her mother would've made for a great opportunity for the two to finally have a proper confrontation and reconcile their differences, but instead Ben and the young office workers pull off a caper to break into her mother's house and have the message deleted, and the subplot with Jules and her mother just ends there without any further mention.

* SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped: An old person still has a lot to offer the world, and one can still find new ways to enjoy life even at retirement age.