The 2006 film The Devil Wears Prada was a simplistic comedy-drama that sort of looked at the toxic work culture in a flashy cinematic way. The climax of that movie had the main lady, Andy, realizing her priorities, and the shot of her boss, Miranda Priestly, taking a pause and realizing what Andy had done gave a different perspective on what that movie was talking about. Director David Frankel and his writer Aline Brosh McKenna take the story forward to the present day, imagining where all these characters could be after roughly 20 years. And interestingly, the makers, including all that’s happening in the media and fashion world now, sort of help this movie to be a slightly evolved sequel that manages to cover a bit more ground.
Andy Sachs, who had chosen journalism when she left Runway, finds herself in a tricky scenario when she and her colleagues are fired as part of a consolidation despite doing great journalism. Fortunately, the sinking PR of Runway at the same time gets Andy one more chance at journalism and Runway. How Andy and Miranda manage to crack an equilibrium in this new working relationship is what we see in The Devil Wears Prada 2.
The good thing about the sequel is that it does not try to repeat the same incidents in the 2006 movie for the sake of callback claps. Runway has evolved, and in this digital era, they are more focused on their online presence. In this new age where workplace harassments and politically incorrect statements are under severe scrutiny, life wasn’t that bossy for Miranda. Hence, these changes that are in complete contrast with Miranda’s routine in the first movie offer the film a lot of space to add humor. In an interesting move, the film even manages to create a sisterhood among these characters who can’t stand each other. And none of it felt like a forceful way of creating a woke narrative.
Aline Brosh McKenna wants the characters to have a more mature relationship dynamic this time, and that pretty much adds a newness to this sequel. Andy is more confident this time, and Miranda is more expressive about her feelings. One of the best things about the movie, in my opinion, was the way it presented and acknowledged the character of Nigel. The bromance between Nigel and Andy goes to a different level this time. Even the character of Emily, despite a minimal screentime, is approached with a lot more empathy. The decision to include elements like layoffs, new corporate tactics, and even the mention of AI in fashion and journalism helps the movie to be relatable to the present audience. The cinematography prefers the glamorous side of things, and as it’s been a while since I have seen that typical New York City movie on the big screen, it felt breezy and good. The fast cuts help the movie have an engaging rhythm.
Meryl Streep as Miranda Priestly performs that character with less sadism this time, as she has undergone some transition due to the change in times. As I said, this time the script is going closer to the characters, and Meryl Streep shows us those different shades of Miranda, without really losing the character’s basic nature. Anne Hathaway as Andy Sachs is much more confident this time, and Hathaway performs the evolution of the character with that witty charm. As I said, her camaraderie with Stanley Tucci’s Nigel in this movie has a very palpable energy, and Tucci was extremely elegant in playing Miranda’s loyal supporter in this long journey. Much like the first part, Emily Blunt’s Emily does not have an extensive role. But she pulls off the comical side of that character beautifully, and the script also uses that character to add drama to the overall development. Bridgerton star Simone Ashley plays the part of Miranda’s new assistant, and it was a “nothing” character she perhaps signed to be around Meryl Streep. Kenneth Branagh, Lucy Liu, and many more are part of the cast in roles with minimal screen time.
Towards the end, The Devil Wears Prada 2 almost restrains itself from evolving further, as it may impact that simplistic, escapist comedy feel of the movie. The witty counter dialogues and the refreshing new perspective on already established characters ultimately make The Devil Wears Prada 2 an enjoyable watch with pardonable flaws. If you have enjoyed the energy of the first part, this one also offers a similar entertainment in a new and evolved work environment.
