The Devil Wears Prada 2 had a mighty hill to climb. Few coming-of-age films are as beloved or have as dedicated a fan base as the original, and updating such an iconic story for a modern audience is always a gamble. Can The Devil Wears Prada 2 make us fall in love with this colorful cast of characters all over again?
The Plot
This long-awaited sequel takes place 20 years after the events of the original. The Devil Wears Prada 2 opens with Andy Sachs (Ann Hathaway), now a successful journalist, suddenly in need of employment. She is recruited to return to Runway Magazine, recently beset by scandal, and immediately button heads with her former tyrannical boss, Miranda Priestley (Meryl Streep), who, in typical fashion, has no memory of ever having worked with Andy in the past. Andy must find a way to revive the struggling publication, save journalism, and discover the woman behind the tyrant that is Miranda Priestley.
The Cast
Everyone in this star-studded cast is firing on all cylinders and having fun doing it. Stanley Tucci returns as the quiet but indispensable Nigel, dulling the edge of Miranda’s blade. Emily Blunt is still fantastic, bringing the high-school mean-girl vibes, and delivers some of the best lines in the film.
Half the fun of the original The Devil Wears Prada was watching Miranda Priestley be aspirationally atrocious to everyone around her. The killer queen of the fashion world spends most of this sequel on her back foot, reacting to the changing world around her. She even has to try to tiptoe around what she says, for fear of HR coming down on her. This vulnerability almost feels uncomfortable at first, but it quickly turns her into a far more interesting character. We see her hopes and fears, and we join her on something of a journey of self-discovery.
Anne Hathaway manages to bring the same relatability, high-strung, yet somehow bubbly energy that she did in the original. Her character’s life experiences have given her a bit more of a backbone and a stronger sense of purpose. Though it is still endlessly entertaining to watch her melt into that same youthful puddle of insecurity anytime she thinks about her former employer.
The Message
The Devil Wears Prada 2 comes out of the gate swinging with a scene that is a harsh critique of modern media being gobbled up and downsized to oblivion. I’ve seen some critics skewer the film for not sticking to this premise closely enough. However, I’d argue that it doesn’t abandon this goal as much as it veils it under a thin veneer of fast-paced and hyper-fashionable fun. Unfortunately, the ultimate solution to this problem is a little less than satisfying, but that’s not teh only thing The Devil Wears Prada 2 has to say.
The film actually has a lot to say beyond it’s defense of journalism. It’s about redefining yourself without losing the core of who you are. It’s also about aging gracefully in a world that moves faster than you expected. I believe these messages will resonate with viewers even more than the more overt message about legacy media.
Who should watch The Devil Wears Prada 2?
If you’re looking for a hard hitting expose about the precarious plight of legacy media, complete with a satisfying solution to an impossibly complex problem, this will not do it for you. Ultimately, The Devil Wears Prada 2 is a fun ride with some familiar characters, a great soundtrack, and a fabulous performance by Lady Gaga. If that is what you’re looking for, you are in for a treat.
