The ironically named “Internship” was the brainchild of rogue CIA director Henry Byrne (the same ethically flexible spymaster in The Painter, also produced by Steven Paul, played by Jon Voight, who only appears in this film as a dossier picture). Since then, it has been mothballed by his successors and the “interns” scattered to the winds. However, the FSB kept tabs on the now mature super-spies produced by Byrne’s secret program. Frankly, FSB director Dimitri Lebedev has been somewhat obsessed, because Russian attempts at their own Internship always ended in the subjects’ complete madness.
Tired of dodging FSB goons, “Catalyst” breaks into the former KGB headquarters to steal their intel. However, it turns into a bloodbath, igniting a war between the Internship and the FSB, in the film’s best action sequence. Learning Catalyst is the daughter she gave up for adoption (before enlisting in the military), high ranking CIA Officer Candace Dalton requests the help of her former colleague (and former lover) Nelson, to find Catalyst and the other Interns who joined up with her.
Nelson ended his Agency career when he knocked-out cold Deputy Director Dick Jones. He admits it was a bad career move, even though most of thir colleagues agreed he had it coming (after all, he has the same name as Ronny Cox’s character in Robocop).
J.D. Zeik’s screenplay (based on Paul’s story) is pretty terrible PR for the CIA, which comes across as decidedly Machiavellian. If its any consolation, it depicts the FSB as being even more ruthless and devious. However, they also come out of the film looking much more competent than their CIA rivals. Indeed, if viewers actually care about America’s national security, the “surprise” ending is a total downer.
However, fans of Strike Back might appreciate The Internship for reuniting Sullivan Stapleton and Philip Winchester, as Nelson and Jones. Stapleton clearly has the more enjoyable assignment as the likably grungy, food truck burger-grilling Nelson.
Ironically, the early explosive early fight sequences create expectations the rest of the film cannot meet. Ultimately, it is a pale shadow of Hanna and the infinitely superior films that it ripped off, like Bourne Identity and La Femme Nikita. Bamford and company also cynically presuppose viewers will have little sympathy for CIA Officers, which is a shame (and arguably shameful). Not recommended, The Internship is now available on VOD.
