The Devil Wears Prada 2 Review

Directed By: David Frankel
Written By: Aline Brosh McKenna
Runtime: 119 minutes
MPA Rating: Rated PG-13 for strong language and some suggestive references

Meryl Streep – Miranda Priestly
Anne Hathaway – Andrea “Andy” Sachs
Stanley Tucci – Nigel Kipling
Emily Blunt – Emily Charlton
Simone Ashley – Amari
Patrick Brammall – Peter
Justin Theroux – Benji Barnes
Kenneth Branagh – Stuart
Tracie Thoms – Lily
Tibor Feldman – Irv Ravitz
B.J. Novak – Jay Ravitz
Helen J Shen – Jin Chao
Lucy Liu – Sasha Barnes

The cast and crew of The Devil Wears Prada reunite for a sequel, twenty years in the making, reuniting Andy Sachs (Hathaway) with her old, icy, domineering boss, Miranda Priestley (Streep). Stanley Tucci and Emily Blunt are also back in their respective roles as fashion maven and Miranda’s right-hand man, Nigel Kipling, and Emily Charlton, respectively. Does this long-awaited reunion work? For the most part, yes, albeit in some surprising ways.

The movie picks up with a now older Andy, who’s become a seasoned, award-winning journalist. Andy has definitely gained some confidence over the years and picked up a few things working for Miranda. However, the corporate owners of her publication take a write-down, liquidating it and putting Andy and her colleagues out of work.

Meanwhile, Miranda and Runway face a looming scandal due to a recent piece endorsing a fast fashion outlet that utilizes poor working conditions and sweatshop labor. The revelation leaves Runway’s reputation in tatters and potentially risks Miranda losing an opportunity for a promotion from her corporate overlord, Irv Ravitz (Feldman).

After Ravitz views a video of Andy’s impassioned speech about the importance of journalism, he quickly ordains her as the new features editor at Runway, putting Andy alongside her old boss. Unfortunately, Andy’s transition comes at a time when print media is basically in its death throes, and online media is heavily driven by corporate oversight and algorithmic trends.

After some initial tension, Andy successfully earns her way into Miranda’s good graces by putting together a holy grail interview with Sasha Barnes (Liu), the rich and famous ex-wife of corporate CEO Benji Barnes (Theroux). Unfortunately, a sudden and unexpected event puts Miranda and everyone else at Runway on the chopping block. It’s now up to Andy and Miranda to work together, with the soul of Runway Magazine and a significant part of the fashion world at stake.

To the benefit of The Devil Wears Prada 2, writer Aline Brosh McKenna’s setup of the journalism crisis appears more thematically relevant now, exploring how corporate oversight and budget cuts are marginalizing quality journalism. The plot positions Miranda and Runway, a stand-in for Vogue, as the latest unfortunate recipients, oddly rendering them as unlikely underdogs.

Director David Frankel, who also directed the original 2006 movie, does err at times, sending mixed signals regarding the fashion world that Miranda and Nigel represent. There are minor opportunities where Andy or other characters point out how the world of haute couture only caters to the wealthy, or people who can afford premium, expensive items, along with somewhat narrow standards for beauty and body types.

While these ideas are mentioned or introduced, the movie only pays them minor lip service. Although Andy’s more serious-minded attitude about journalism takes Runway’s editorial style in a more positive direction, which impresses Sasha Barnes, Miranda and Nigel quickly point out that her new stories aren’t generating desired traffic. However, Frankel does excel in presenting Miranda as a cunning pragmatist who is willing to fight for her ideals and views of the fashion world.

The sequel also benefits from the returning cast members, who easily reprise their roles from the original. Hathaway’s Andy has maintained her bubbly charm from the first movie. Streep isn’t afraid to show Miranda’s more vulnerable side, usually in moments with Miranda’s latest husband, Stuart. The chemistry and rapport they create together onscreen provide simple, energetic, and amusing entertainment.

Among the new cast members is Patrick Brammall as Andy’s new love interest, the gentlemanly architect Peter. Their relationship is pretty mild for the most part, and Hathaway shows much better chemistry with her other castmates. Branagh’s Stuart appears infinitely patient and saintlike as Miranda’s latest husband. It’s a fairly light and thankless role, so it’s almost shocking to see someone of Branagh’s caliber in it.

Simone Ashley portrays Miranda’s current first assistant, Amari, who shows much more acumen at the role than Andy did decades earlier. In one of the better scenes of the film, Amari amusingly portrays how times have changed in the workplace when she quietly admonishes Miranda for her harsher, less-than-appropriate remarks.

Theroux emerges as an antagonist of sorts in the plot. Theroux’s a talented actor, and he has one scene where his character shows a bit more intelligence and realism than his earlier scenes, where Barnes comes off as downright dimwitted and incompetently buffoonish.

The more humorous moments involve a callback to the original, as Miranda must now store her hat and coat herself, as H.R. started getting too many complaints when she threw them at her employees. In another amusing scene, Miranda must suffer riding with the rest of the proletariat in the economy class of a commercial jet. The gags are simple, but they work effectively.

Frankel undeniably shines, displaying the glitz and glamor of the fashion world with a remarkable sheen and layer of polish. Streep, Hathaway, and the rest of the cast go through many extravagant wardrobe changes throughout the film, but they look immaculate. Frankel understands how to shoot these moments with an appealing visual splendor.

The Devil Wears Prada 2 certainly contains enough that will likely please fans of the original. It’s decently watchable as far as sequels go, especially those that waited this long to get made. The strong cast’s solid performances, David Frankel’s polished direction, lavish wardrobes and locales, and weirdly relevant thematic material elevate the experience.

Where to Watch The Devil Wears Prada 2

The Devil Wears Prada 2 hits theaters on May 1. Ticket and showtime information are available at the movie’s website.

7.0

The final score: review Good

The 411

The Devil Wears Prada 2 is a fairly entertaining sequel that, surprisingly, says some interesting things about the state of journalism and the slow death of print media, along with magazines like Runway and individuals such as Miranda. The veteran cast members, plus the glitzy and polished direction by David Frankel, certainly elevate the feature, making it a fairly brisk and easy viewing experience. Streep's Miranda might be a domineering tyrant, but at least she stands for something and fights for her beliefs, which aligns with Andy's interests in a decently engaging plot.