Being a young boy when The Devil Wears Prada was released in 2006, I was never particularly drawn to watching the film, and always saw it as a film for girls, particularly leaning into the chick flicks of that era. It wasn’t until 2022 that I first watched this film, at a time where I had more appreciation for the art form, and had grown up enough to just be able to watch it and accept it for what it is. An enjoyable film, with some strong performances from a fantastic, iconic cast carries the film to be entertaining and help the film stand the test of time, but the film ends in a decent place at a time where they weren’t desperate to kick start a trilogy and happy doing one and done.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 sees Andy Sachs looking for a job when she is approached to return to Runway magazine as features editor. In a dying medium, the magazine needs to reinvent itself amid controversy and takeover rumours, still under the rule of the fierce, Miranda Priestley.
I’m not sure anyone was particularly clamouring for this film to be made either. That being said, the film has done well at the box office, currently sitting at nearly $250 million worldwide just after the opening weekend, with the film a certain to overtake Wuthering Heights within the next few days.
Given the current state of Hollywood, it’s only a surprise that this favourite of many has taken so long to have a sequel. However, it makes sense given the timing, with how much print media is dying and having to adapt to an increasingly online world, as well as AI of course. This idea is great, and that’s where I like the idea of what this film could’ve been. It flirts with this idea, and certainly looks like thats an avenue they’re going to explore, but ultimately waste it.
The creatives involved in the first do return for this one. Director, David Frankel reteams with writer, Aline Brosh McKenna who both had the same roles on the first one as well. David Frankel has had a unique career after getting his break from directing a couple of episodes of the hit war series, Band of Brothers, he had success with the first of these films, then directed Marley & Me immediately after, then struggled to hit the same sort of heights. It’s a similar type of story for Aline Brosh McKenna who has had success as recently as 2021 with Cruella, a film that has similarities to The Devil Wears Prada. I don’t think the writing is technically quite as strong as the first one, as it feels like this one follows a similar trajcetory. My biggest gripe particularly being how cartoonish Emily Blunt’s character and her boyfriend are. I understand it’s a light film, but at times they feel almost so over the top that they wouldn’t feel out of place in Looney Tunes.
The cast do another great job, and honestly I could watch the 4 main performers do these films all day. Anne Hathaway made her career doing these types of films so it almost feels comforting for her to return to this universe, especially in a year where she is also set to appear in The Odyssey, Verity and The End of Oak Street, so will be one of the highest grossing stars of the year, behind the likes of Zendaya, Tom Holland and Robert Pattinson (who all also feature in The Odyssey). Meryl Streep is enthralling and entertaining in her role of Miranda Priestly, which previously earned her 1 of her 21 (yes 21) Oscar Nominations, and was very much the strength of the first film, unfortunately I think due this film covering similar tracks, it doesn’t feel like she’s able to pack as much of a punch. Stanley Tucci is an icon, and is really at the heart of these films, and should be in every film ever. Emily Blunt is thriving in her career after her nomination for Oppenheimer a couple of years ago. This time Emily seems to be lacking some of the heart that was there in the previous film, almost in favour of making her seem cartoonish, but the serious moments are where she can thrive.
Overall, The Devil Wears Prada 2 will likely be enjoyable enough to fans of the first one, without offering anything particularly new. The cast continues to deliver, as we know they can, but the story and lack of anything groundbreaking, when it could’ve had a lot to say about where the industry is currently at, stops it from packing a punch. A simple watch.
What did you think of The Devil Wears Prada 2?
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