Wafricnews - June 22, 2025

Legendary Hollywood actor Robert De Niro has once again captured hearts as his much-loved comedy The Intern lands on Netflix this week. Known for decades of intense roles as gangsters and anti-heroes, De Niro shows a softer side in this lighthearted film that continues to win over audiences.

First released in 2015, The Intern marks one of De Niro’s more gentle roles in recent years. He stars as Ben Whittaker, a 70-year-old widower who chooses not to fade quietly into retirement. Instead, he applies for a senior intern position at a buzzing online fashion startup and quickly becomes a steady presence among a young team trying to navigate the pressures of the modern workplace.

De Niro's Ben is thoughtful, charming, and full of wisdom – the type of granddad everyone wishes they had. His unexpected bond with the company’s ambitious founder Jules, played by Anne Hathaway, becomes the film’s emotional core. As Jules faces major decisions about her personal life and the future of her business, Ben's presence becomes increasingly invaluable.

Directed by Nancy Meyers (The Holiday, It’s Complicated), The Intern balances wit and warmth without falling into clichés. The film’s 73% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes reflects its quiet power as a feel-good crowd-pleaser. Unlike some of Meyers’ past romantic comedies, this one leans away from romance and instead focuses on friendship, purpose, and second chances.

For De Niro, it was a refreshing detour from his usual hard-edged roles. But it wasn’t long before he flipped the script again.

Just a year later, the actor returned to playing outrageous with Dirty Grandpa, a raunchy comedy where he portrays a lewd, foul-mouthed retired military officer on a wild road trip with his straight-laced grandson, played by Zac Efron. In stark contrast to The Intern, Dirty Grandpa shocked many viewers — and delighted others — with its unapologetically crude humour.

Though critics slammed the film, calling it a low point for De Niro, Dirty Grandpa raked in over $94 million globally on a $25 million budget. And rather than derail his career, it simply added another layer to his already diverse legacy.

Taken together, these two films show two wildly different views of aging: one soft and wise, the other loud and unruly. Yet both highlight De Niro’s rare ability to dive into any role with commitment—whether he’s mentoring millennials or corrupting them.

At 80, the Oscar winner remains as unpredictable as ever, reminding fans that he’s still full of surprises.

The Intern is now streaming on Netflix in both the US and UK.

Dirty Grandpa is available on Prime Video in the US and on Apple TV+ in the UK.


By Wafricnews Desk.