The Internship: More Than Just a Google Ad?
The film "The Internship," starring Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson, reunites the famous "Wedding Crashers" duo in a comedy that throws them into the cutthroat world of tech internships at Google. But is it just a two-hour advertisement for the tech giant, or is there more to it?
A Familiar Pairing in a New World
Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson, famous wedding crashers, have signed up for "The Internship," a fish-out-of-water comedy that takes them inside the world of technology. The duo plays Nick and Billy, two salespeople who find themselves out of work when their company goes under. They talk their way into a summer internship with Google in the hopes of landing a permanent position. Immediately thrown into an arena with the nation’s most sought-after minds, they must compete with young tech geniuses despite lacking the necessary educational background. The trailer is chocked full of gags that play off their ignorance of geek culture.
Google's Perspective
In CNN’s article, “Why Google Loves ‘The Internship,’” Heather Kelly mentions how co-founder Larry Page believes the movie will assist in Google’s “computer science’s marketing problem.” Google collaborated with filmmakers to be displayed in an accurate and gratifying way. The film contains scenes of employees working on treadmills, using volleyball and other outdoor activity as a stress outlet, and enjoying the “delicious free food” that Google offers daily. One of Google’s newest gadgets is the self-driving automobile which is seen a couple times throughout the two-hour movie. The movie’s plot focuses around the summer internship program that Google offers to 1,500 students every June which receives over 40,000 applicants.
Reality vs. Comedy
‘The Internship’ does stray from “Google reality” for comedic purposes but does not demonstrate the company in a negative way. Raymond Braun, once an intern and now a full-time Google employee, said that, “It couldn’t have been more opposite than my own experience” when discussing the competitive mindset the interns portray on screen.
Reviews and Reactions
Some critics view "The Internship" as blatant product placement, almost a two-hour infomercial for Google, which is presented here as nothing short of a utopia. One reviewer noted a character even has a monologue early in the film about how Google is all about diversity, and that everyone, regardless of their education or background, should have a shot with the company. The film even has sequences where characters have to man the Google helpline and answer all kinds of questions about common bugs and fixes for the various apps, all of which are explained over and over throughout the film.
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However, others found the film enjoyable and uplifting. Despite some initially thinking they wouldn’t like it - a whole movie advertising how great Google is - they admitted to being wrong and enjoying the film. It was funny and uplifting like good comedy films should be, but there were also parts of it that felt really honest.
The Vaughn-Wilson Dynamic
Vaughn and Wilson's chemistry is a key part of the film's appeal. Their buddy-buddy camaraderie is infectious, and it’s funny watching them play off each other. The trailer for “The Internship” suggests that fans of Vaughn and Wilson’s previous film together, “Wedding Crashers,” have plenty to look forward to, including the two huddling over a webcam together, fist-bumping Google dweebs, committing generational gaffes and getting punched - Vaughn in the face, Wilson in the crotch - by a man in a wheelchair.
However, some critics felt that the movie feels so watered down next to “Wedding Crashers”. Not only is “The Internship” PG-13, but it’s a light PG-13. Vaughn and Wilson are at their best when they’re raunchy. Take the raunch away from THE WEDDING CRASHERS and I’m not convinced it still would have been a good movie.
Predictable Plot or Relatable Themes?
Despite a hefty two-hour running time, some felt the characters never even come close to being two-dimensional. It adheres so strictly to the underdogs beat the odds formula (although with Google being such a wonderful, tolerant place, they’re never really underdogs) that the plot is beyond predictable.
However, others found the attitude of the rest of the rejects relatable. They’re all incredibly smart and very tech savvy, but they’re also cynical about their futures and believe that doing their best isn’t enough. They grew up being told that they could do anything they wanted, be anything they dreamed, but then something changed and they were being told that they had to do better; they had to be the best of the best to get an education, to get degrees in subjects that employers looked for over ones we enjoyed, and once you’ve fought you’re way through to get to the top, you still might not get the job.
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