I just walked out of the theater and honestly, my head is still spinning a bit. I went in expecting a straightforward action flick, but 'The Internship' had this sharp, almost bitter energy that stuck with me. It's not your typical feel-good spy movie—it's a revenge story with teeth. I keep thinking about Lizzy Greene's performance; there was this one scene where her character just... shuts down, and it was chilling. The movie left me feeling tense, but in a way that made me want to dissect it with someone over coffee.
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What's The Internship About?
The movie follows a group of assassins who were trained from childhood in a secret CIA program called The Internship. When one of them, played by Lizzy Greene, decides to turn the tables and destroy the very organization that created her, she recruits her former classmates. It's a brutal game of cat and mouse, with the CIA deploying its own deadly force to stop them. Think less 'Mission: Impossible' glamour, more gritty, personal vengeance.
What Works in The Internship
- ✓ Lizzy Greene was phenomenal. She balanced cold, calculated violence with these flickers of shattered humanity that made her terrifying and tragic.
- ✓ The action choreography was brutally efficient. No unnecessary flourishes, just sharp, violent moves that felt real and desperate.
- ✓ The core concept of the 'Internship' program was genuinely unsettling. It gave the violence a disturbing, personal weight.
- ✓ The runtime was perfect. At 91 minutes, it was a tight, relentless sprint that never overstayed its welcome.
What Doesn't Work
- ✗ Some of the supporting characters, especially Sky Katz's, felt a bit underdeveloped. I wanted to know more about her specific motivations.
- ✗ The plot is very straightforward. If you're looking for complex twists, this isn't that movie—it's a straight-line revenge mission.
- ✗ A few of the CIA agent characters, Philip Winchester included, felt like generic 'government obstacle' types without much depth.
Standout Moments & Performances
There's a flashback scene early on, showing the 'Internship' kids in training. It wasn't graphic, but the clinical, emotionless way it was presented made my skin crawl. Later, there's a confrontation in a rainy parking garage between Greene and Megan Boone's character. The dialogue was sparse, but the history and betrayal between them were palpable. I actually held my breath. The final showdown, set in this stark, industrial space, was less about big explosions and more about two exhausted forces clashing. It felt grimly inevitable.
Main Cast: Lizzy Greene, Megan Boone, Sky Katz, Philip Winchester, Alix Villaret
Direction, Music & Visuals
James Bamford's direction is all about kinetic energy and tight spaces. He comes from stunt coordination, and it shows—the fights are coherent, brutal, and you always know who's hitting whom. The cinematography had a cool, almost metallic color palette that reinforced the movie's cold heart. The score was minimal, using more atmospheric tension than big themes, which worked. Performance-wise, Lizzy Greene carries the film. She has to be a lethal weapon and a broken person, and she nails both. Megan Boone brings a great, weary intensity as the CIA point person trying to clean up the mess.
Director: James Bamford
Genres: Action
Who Should Watch The Internship?
If you like your action movies lean, mean, and character-driven, this is for you. Fans of movies like 'Atomic Blonde' or 'Haywire' who appreciate a physically grounded, gritty protagonist will find a lot to like. It's also great for anyone tired of overly complicated spy plots and just wants a visceral, well-executed revenge story with a compelling central performance.
Who Might Want to Skip?
If you're looking for a fun, quippy action-comedy or a grand, globe-trotting adventure, steer clear. This is a downbeat, violent film about trauma and betrayal. It's also quite straightforward, so if you need labyrinthine plots, you might be disappointed.
Final Verdict
I'd definitely recommend 'The Internship' with the right expectations. It's a solid, above-average action thriller that delivers on its premise with style and a standout lead performance. It won't redefine the genre, but it executes its specific vision very well. Would I watch it again? Probably, mainly to study Greene's performance and the crisp action sequences. It's a 7.5 for me—a really good night at the movies if you're in the mood for something with a sharp edge and no easy answers.
