Product Details

• Actors: Dominique Swain, Ben Pullen, Peggy Lipton, David Deblinger, Joan Rivers
• Directors: Michael Lange
• Writers: Caroline Doyle, Jill Kopelman
• Producers: Alex Orlovsky, Caroline Doyle, Daniela Taplin Lundberg, Ernst Etchie Stroh, Galt Niederhoffer
• Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Subtitles: Spanish
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Studio: York Home Video
• DVD Release Date: September 26, 2000
• Run Time: 90 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00004W207
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #129,292 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "The Intern" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Dominique Swain, best known as Lolita in the 1998 Adrian Lyne remake and the knife-wielding daughter in Face-Off, shows off her gift for romantic comedy in this lightweight little confection. Interning at glossy fashion magazine "Skirt," her inexperienced but plucky and charming Jocelyn jumps at the often outlandish commands of her editors and nurses a crush on the magazine's assistant art director (Ben Pullen) while waiting for her big break, specifically a paying position. The high-strung editorial staff includes Joan Rivers (who barks up a storm with new ideas on wheelchair chic), Peggy Lipton, Kathy Griffin, Anna Thompson, and Paulina Porizkova as a former model who can't shake her starvation diet. "She had an apple two days ago," someone comments after she faints. "That can't be it," nods another.

The ostensible plot involves industrial espionage and the campaign to flush out "the Yuri," a spy sending all their upcoming ideas to arch-rival Vogue that Jocelyn vows to uncover, but that's just another complication in the wacky world of haute couture. Crammed with insider jokes, industry potshots, and an army of cameos only fashion devotees will recognize, from Diane von Fürstenberg to Tommy Hilfiger (for the rest of us there's Gwyneth Paltrow for a few brief seconds), it's an old fashioned romantic comedy with a new wardrobe. It's Swain's engaging performance and Michael Lange's genial direction that mellow the caustic barbs and invest it with a sense of heart. --Sean Axmaker

From The New Yorker

Dominique Swain acquired a dollop of notoriety for her 1997 portrayal of Lolita, and she returns here as a bright-eyed intern at a fashion magazine, which seems a likely landing place for an ex-nymphet. The film begins as a farce but turns into a Cinderella story when she falls for the lone straight guy in the art department, who just happens to be related to English royalty. The screenwriters, Jill Kopelman and Caroline Doyle, earned their insights in the fashion-mag trenches, but it's difficult to satirize a moving target: the editor who gag-vomits after sipping a latte made with two-per-cent milk is definitely last year's model. Cameos by André Leon Talley, Tommy Hilfiger, Cynthia Rowley, and other fashion luminaries (all playing themselves) underscore the basic problem: fashion people already move through their lives as though they are on film, so there's little point in exaggerating them. -Michael Agger
Copyright © 2006 The New Yorker

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very enjoyable movie, October 7, 2000

By 

Robert C. Tobin (Paradise Point, Queensland Australia) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Intern (DVD)

I bought this movie because I am smitten by Paulina Porizkova who plays the shoe editor for "Skirt" magazine. She was the Estee Lauder model for about 7 years. Gwyneth Paltrow has a cameo role as well. I am also smitten by her. I have been reading fashion magazines for years and, for a while was a photographer, and know about models. In fact, I knew a model like Resin.

The movie has this very enjoyable musical production number just after the start. It is reminiscent of the old MGM musicals. Then we are introduced to the staff of "Skirt" by Jocelyn, the intern. She is played very well by Dominique Swain. All the staff of "Skirt" are played 'over the top' like some members of the rag trade.

Peggy Lipton who plays the editor in chief was a pleasant surprise to me. I last saw her as Julie, the gorgeous blond dolly cop in "The Mod Squad" TV series. Now she has black hair and is a very attractive sophisticated lady. Joan Rivers is, as usual excellent in her role.There are the cameos of the fashion famous especially Andre Leon Talley (actually Editor at Large of Vogue). The thing that really adds to this movie is the story about the spy. I did not suspect who the spy turned out to be. The movie is well scripted - a plus these days when there are movies being made with excellent special effects but bad scripts. The editing is tight which makes the film move fast with no dead spots.

A credit to Michael Lange for his first feature movie. He has being doing a lot of TV including the "X-Files" and should get a lot more feature work.

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A LITTLE OUTRAGEOUS AND LOTS OF FUN, August 27, 2000

By 

Mike (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Intern (DVD)

If you're looking for an intelligent satirical romantic comedy that's a little outrageous and lots of fun, you've found it! But first a warning: I directed this film, so obviously there's a bias, though I am usually pretty hard on my own work. It was in the 2000 Sundance Film Festival and did very well there. Audiences loved it. I think you will, too. I gave it 5 stars (though I haven't seen the DVD yet) for the above reason(me being the director), but I must confess that the sound quality isn't the greatest. Chalk that up to low budget independent filmmaking. Other than that, the film looks great and is a huge amount of fun to watch. You'll probably need to watch it a few times to get all the jokes and double entendres (and there are a lot of them), and I guarantee you'll catch something new each time.

The film gives you a behind the scenes look at the fashion industry but it's certainly not meant to be a serious expose, although I tried hard (and succeeded) to keep it honest and authentic. The writers, who were both in the Fashion Magazine business as interns, were on the set every day making sure we kept it all true to form. Many of the scenes in the film and even some of the dialogue actually happened to the writers. And most of the characters are based on real people in the business.

Dominique Swain is sublime in the role of Jocelyn. She's likeable, beautiful and vulnerable yet strong. Ben Pullen is charming. Sort of a more accessible version of Hugh Grant. Joan Rivers is very funny and fun to watch. Kathy Griffin is hilarious, Peggy Lipton is also very funny and Paulina Porizkova is beautiful and not afraid to look a little silly. Anna Thompson is fantastic as Antoinette, a totally bizarre hair editor. David Deblinger, who is somehow missing from the credits in Amazon (he is credited in the film, of course), plays Richard, who turns out to be Jocelyn's best friend at Skirt. He came in to audition for a smaller part, but asked if he could read for Richard. I said OK and he nailed it. He really brought alot to the party. All of the rest of the cast is terrific. Lots of strong New York actors. There are lots of fashion cameos- Tommy Hilfiger, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kenneth Cole, Andre Leon Talley, etc.

The story is basically a romantic comedy about Jocelyn (Dominique) who is an intern at Skirt Magazine and her experiences at the mag. She falls in love with Paul (Ben) but he's involved with Resin (Leilani Bishop), a Supermodel with all the expected attributes. Does she get the guy? You'll have to watch to find out. Along the way, she's treated pretty poorly by most of the people she works for. I'm sure any of you who have been interns in your life will totally identify with this.

There's also a corporate espionage B-story about layouts for the magazine being sent ahead of time to Vogue.....Who's the spy?

I wanted to put a comedic commentary on the DVD, but there wasn't quite enough time to pull it off. Sorry about that. I'm told that there is some footage that was taken from the various events at the Sundance Festival-- interviews and stuff like that. I'll make sure to put the commentary on the re-release.....

Anyway, I had a great time making this film and I know that you'll have a great time watching it. It's not for kids (quite a bit of swearing and some gay characters- though my kids love it), but it's fun for anyone else. If you'd like to contact me about the film I've set up a special e-mail address. It's [e-mail]. Please feel free to get in touch. I'm anxious to know what you think of my film.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Over the Top, March 15, 2008

By 

Knowledge Contagion (California - again) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Intern (DVD)

Do not allow the opening musical sequence to cause you to turn off the movie! It is my opinion that this movie is worth watching to the end.

I know this a silly movie. I know the acting isn't the best. But I love this movie. The acting is so over the top and quasi-serious (or is that really how people in the fashion industry talk and act?!). I think that the only way to truly enjoy this movie is if you don't take it seriously.

The celebrity guest spots are fabulous - especially Joan Rivers. If you are skeptical about the movie and not too amused, you can't help but guffaw when she hits the screen (at least I couldn't).

The love story is predictable yet cute ... The whole Eurie (sp?) thing is a bit annoying, but it's almost worth sitting through that part of the plot when it's finally discovered who it is. Some subplots are interesting, others would have been better off as deleted scenes (if I recall, this DVD has no special features aside from interactive menus and the like).

So, I shall reiterate: If you are to enjoy this movie, you can't take it seriously. It is a fun movie and should be watched when you're in need of fluff.