If it Ain’t Broken, Don’t Fix it
Remakes are often met with some rightful trepidation. Particularly ones we didn’t know we needed, let alone ask for in the first place. And while office comedies and dramas transcend global borders and deliver universal ideas, Nancy Meyers’ The Intern always felt deeply American. So on its face, a South Korean remake of the bestseller seems like an odd choice. That hesitancy is usually proven right, with many of its themes feeling a bit lost in translation. So many elements are actively working against the South Korean remake of The Intern; it’s honestly a miracle it works at all. But to my surprise (as I’m not really a Nancy Meyers fan and find the original film just fine), The Intern manages to overcome many of its headwinds to deliver a charming but ultimately safe remake.
Updated to fit South Korean culture and do away with its American sensibilities. With the ever-increasing globalization of private equity and tech giants gobbling up everything in sight, The Intern actually doesn’t need to change much when it comes to its office politics and corporate bureaucracy. Turns out it’s the same no matter where you go. The Intern operates under the tried and true adage: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. The film mostly sticks to the script, changing very little and moving like a shot-for-shot remake of its source material. Changing next to nothing is often a detriment, but The Intern coasts on its innate charm and strong performances which proves enough to be a delightful but somewhat forgettable watch.
Same Story, Different Country
If you liked The Intern (the book or movie or both) then you’ll most likely find a lot to like here, too. The basic setup is unchanged from any iteration. Sun-woo (Han So Hee) is a young entrepreneur whose fashion start-up has skyrocketed to massive success in a short period of time. Ki-ho (a wonderful Choi Min Shik) is a retired widower with 37 years of work experience. Unable to cope with retirement, he is hired as an intern despite having no real knowledge of fashion or digital tools. Despite their differences, Sun-woo and Ki-ho develop an unexpected bond that will help shape them both and determine the future of the entire company.
Generational differences find harmony instead of colliding, and The Intern provides everyone the chance to bring something to the table. We all have something to offer, and just because the times have changed doesn’t mean our lived experience and knowledge is suddenly rendered obsolete. In the digital age in which critical thinking and reading/writing comprehension are treated as luxuries instead of necessities, The Intern releasing now, actually feels more relevant than it did in 2015. The working-class challenges are actually magnified a decade later, and this South Korean remake smartly taps into the woes of ageism and the small-business little guy.
Strong Leads and Charm Make This Work
Most of its thematic ideas are surface level at best. Kim Do Young competently reconstructs much of what we already know and have seen rather than trying to dive deeper into the subject matter and mine something new. Again, this is a stay close to the familiar approach, The Intern very rarely taking any liberties or detours from its origins. This results in what worked to work again and what didn’t to hold it back with the same arms. Han So Hee is striking and talented, embodying a passionate but overwhelmed CEO trying to keep it all together quite well. But it’s Cho Min Shik as Ki-ho that really sells this retelling. The Intern rests on Min Shik’s shoulders, and he proves to be up to the task of carrying it over the finish line.
I actually prefer his portrayal of the character over Robert DeNiro. There’s a softness, a kindness that Min Shik naturally brings to the role that helps bolster the unexpected father/daughter bond the two stars develop over time. He’s a bit more believable and that helps sell the more fantastical elements of The Intern. Both Min Shik and So Hee have great chemistry, which is vital as most of the other supporting cast are fine but not given a whole lot to do. Very few other characters are fully fleshed out or realized, muddling some of the pacing and stretching the run time further than the simple story can sustain.
Final Thoughts
As far as unnecessary remakes go, The Intern ends up getting more right than wrong. With a strong cast and solid foundation, the film charms its way into a winner even if it probably plays things a little too safe to warrant its existence. I do prefer this ending to the original; it’s more thought out and not as abrupt or clunky. And though it does a lot of the same things most of the time, the small South Korean flares of uniqueness serve as the glue that keep this from going off the rails completely. The Intern is as cute as you’d expect it to be, and if you’re in the Meyers bag already than this South Korean remake will fit right in.
The Intern also sports one of the first 6-7 jokes I’ve seen on screen. I don’t know exactly what that means for comedy in the future but it is funny so I’ll let them have this one.
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