The Devil Wears Prada 2

When 20 years pass between a movie and its sequel, a lot of disappointment can result when the follow-up is at last released. Derivative, underdeveloped story threads and an overreliance on nostalgic strolls down memory lane often abound, leaving viewers suitably underwhelmed, especially loyal fans of the source material. However, every so often, audiences are the lucky beneficiaries of pleasant surprises, movies that live up to their billing and come close to matching the magic of their predecessors. Such is the case with director David Frankel’s long-awaited answer to the iconic 2006 comedy “The Devil Wears Prada,” a delightful blend of the elements that made the original such a success, skillfully mixed with enough new material to create a work all its own. This latest offering follows what happens when the iconic Runway fashion magazine, led by longtime editor/diva in residence Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep), finds itself in hot water for unwittingly publishing an offensive article in praise of a clothing manufacturer that’s essentially an exploitative sweat shop, placing the publication’s and editor’s future in jeopardy. To effect damage control, Runway quickly hires award-winning journalist Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway) to come on board as the magazine’s new features editor. Andy’s hiring proves propitious for her, having just been unexpectedly laid off from her job (despite her recent accolades), and for Runway, given her familiarity with the magazine, having once worked there, ironically, as Miranda’s often-put-upon assistant. Having now been thrown together under these trying circumstances, the confrontational duo struggles to make things work out, an ordeal that eventually culminates in a battle in which multiple parties vie for ownership of the publication. Joining the fray in this rollercoaster scenario are Miranda’s trusty righthand man, Nigel Kipling (Stanley Tucci), Andy’s onetime condescending rival, Emily Charlton (Emily Blunt), and an array of Runway...

Much as I did quite enjoy this, it isn't a patch on the first outing for those at "Runway" magazine two decades ago. It seems that boss "Miranda" (Meryl Streep) has somewhat lost her touch and after a major in-print faux-pas, she is on the defensive with a publisher who needs her to eat some humble pie and appease disgruntled advertisers. To make matters worse, he imposes a new features editor in the form of her erstwhile second assistant "Andy" (Anne Hathaway) who has recently been the victim of some downsizing at her previous employer. Luckily for this unwelcomed new arrival, the debonaire "Nigel" (Stanley Tucci) is still around to try and smooth the path for her as she treads on some eggshells more delicate than those from Karl Fabergé. One of those they have to keep sweet is Dior, and guess who has taken the reins there? Yep - the original "Emily" (Emily Blunt) who is savouring her opportunity to make her former boss squirm. "Andy" is going to have to pull off something big if she is to impress her sceptical and aloof boss - a task made all the more difficult when their publisher dives head first into the consommé and his son espies an opportunity to employ some consultants to "streamline" this most lavish of publications. Will they unite to fight? Can they even trust each other? What was missing for me in this was an imperiousness from Streep. Her cutting one-liners and superiority complex are just too limited and humanised here - thanks in part to partner "Stuart" (Sir Kenneth Branagh), and her character spends altogether too much time on the back foot. Hathaway and Tucci reprise their roles well enough but the altered dynamic between "Andy" and a too peripheral "Emily" didn't quite work so well for me. Too much emphasis is made on the access the production has had to real high-fashion shoots, to real celebrity contributors and to the authentic glamour of the industry whilst the lacklustre story is rather left to find it's own way. Clearly, there is a valid po...

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Rating: B+

THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA 2 is a remarkably fun legacy sequel that effortlessly bridges the gap between mid-2000s nostalgia and the modern digital era. The electric chemistry of the original cast hasn't faded a bit, with Stanley Tucci delivering a stellar, scene-stealing performance. Supported by a remarkably witty script full of laugh-out-loud moments and stunning costume design, the film tackles the harsh realities of a changing media landscape with authenticity. While the second act slows down under corporate subplots, it remains a thoroughly entertaining, highly relevant update.

Going back to a classic is always a slippery slope. When I sat down to watch the highly anticipated sequel to The Devil Wears Prada, I was worried it would just be a pale copy of the original. Unfortunately, the new movie tries so hard to balance the comfort of nostalgia with the decline of print media that it ends up with a bit of an identity crisis. The direction feels strangely bureaucratic, as if the person behind the camera was just checking boxes for an engagement algorithm instead of bringing a unique vision. This is incredibly obvious in the visuals, too. The gritty, frantic warmth of early 2000s New York is gone, replaced by a sterile, overly polished digital look. The luxurious sets that used to feel seductive and oppressive now just feel cold, making the film look more like a generic streaming movie than a pop culture trendsetter.

The script basically falls into the "soft reboot" trap. It recycles the exact same narrative beats and conflicts from the first movie, completely ignoring that these characters are in entirely different stages of their lives. Dealing with the brutal transition to the digital age and the collapse of the print market was the perfect natural path to take, but the execution is incredibly shallow. AI and social media are handled in a way that feels almost cartoonish, like an out-of-touch older executive trying to explain how the internet works. To make matters worse, the pacing really drags in the second act. The story gets bogged down by boring contract negotiations and forced romantic subplots that have zero chemistry and kill any sense of urgency. Everything is wrapped up way too easily in the end, making the whole thing feel like a very safe, predictable rough draft.

Bringing Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, and Emily Blunt back together seemed like a surefire hit, but the reality on screen is pretty disappointing. The undeniable spark from the original is just gone, and their interactions feel so cold and rehearsed that it a...

An average film with an average story. It lacks the conviction of the first part. Also, the character are bland, trying to be politically correct. No funny elements in the movie.
Relies on the watcher being familiar with the first part that came out years back. I highly doubt the younger generation would have watched the prequel. Subtle connotations are a miss as a first time watcher of this movie franchise.