The Devil Wears Prada 2
Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep) navigates her career amid the decline of traditional magazine publishing and reunites with Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway) to face off against a former assistant turned rival.
STORY: A-
Well-executed, charming fan service that still feels fresh.
The first film I thought of as I walked out of the theater was Top Gun: Maverick, another decades-later sequel with a plot that closely resembles its original.
Neither story needs to change because the characters and the world around them have. Here, Andy has grown up. Emily has evolved. Miranda hasn’t changed, but she’s trying (her attempts to bend her insults toward a more politically correct time are hysterical). Runway is facing a financial crisis in the digital age. Long-form journalism is getting paved over by influencer culture.
With everything else changing around it, the repetitive story still feels fresh but familiar in a wonderful way.
PEOPLE: A
The crew is back.
The original film blessed this world with four flat-out, iconic characters. They’re all back, and the filmmakers have enough generosity of spirit to give each of them plenty of screen time to cook.
As with the first film, this is Andy’s story. But whether you’re Team Andy, Miranda, Emily, or Nigel, you’ll find ample opportunity to cheer. The ensemble is one of the film’s biggest strengths.
FILM NERD STUFF: B+
The camera tells the story.
As in the fashion world, it’s not just what you show. It’s how you show it.
Runway’s frenetic trip to Milan is shot as a fast-paced montage. The camera swirls. It swings over the roof of a car. Andy and Miranda step out of it strutting. We then whirl past the museum doorway. Looking back, they’re in new outfits and already on to the next thing,
The scene’s kinetic energy leaves us feeling as though we’ve survived a frantic Fashion Week as well.
Another shot stands out. The film’s final moment is heightened by a pull-away shot from outside Runway’s building, revealing a visual image of the company’s new, heart-warming status quo.
ONE BIG LESSON: A
Ambition has its place, but so do people.
The first film dealt with the relationship between ambition and self-discovery. This film meets its characters at the stage of life where they are, if not finished products, at least well established in how they navigate the world.
They’ve matured enough to learn that ambition is a necessary part of life, but so are the relationships you make along the way. Pursuing your ambitions alongside the people who bring out the best version of you will not only make your life better. It also creates the most fertile ground for putting art and beauty into the world.
FINAL COMMENTS:
If you haven’t seen the original, you’ll find The Devil Wears Prada 2 a good movie. It’s got compelling characters. It’s got engaging camerawork that serves its storytelling. It’s a whole lot of fun.
But watching its predecessor is like clicking an in-app purchase that unlocks a bevy of delightful features. Dozens of subtle Easter eggs appear. Dramatic moments transform into rewarding, long-developing bonds. Familiarity with the original enhances the experience and pushes this film from good to great.
It doesn’t reach for the skies in terms of cinematic importance. At times it coasts on the audience’s affection for the original. Still, this film feels like a group hug swaddled in high-end glamour, and I’m here for it.