The Devil Wears Prada 2

by Tyler Glover

Photo: 20th Century Studios

Director: David Frankel
Starring: Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway & Emily Blunt 
Rated: PG-13 (language and some suggestive references)
Runtime: 1 hour & 59 minutes

 
There are films we watch every year. During the Christmas season, it is a tradition for my family to watch “Home Alone,” “It’s A Wonderful Life,” “Elf,” “Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas” and “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” Then, there are films that are the feel-good movies that bring us joy, which are a must for us to watch at least once a year. My collection of those films is “Legally Blonde, “How To Lose A Guy In Ten Days,” “The Proposal,” “Miss Congeniality,” and “The Devil Wears Prada.” That is why I was thrilled to learn that “The Devil Wears Prada” was going to get a sequel. The first film introduced a whole new generation, including myself, to the brilliance of three-time Academy Award-winning actress Meryl Streep. Her ice-cold portrayal of Runway editor-in-chief Miranda Priestly is one of my favorite performances of all time. It has been 20 years since the release of the first film. So, was “The Devil Wears Prada 2” worth the wait? 
 
In “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” former second assistant Andie Sachs (Academy Award-winner Anne Hathaway) has become an award-winning journalist. Unfortunately, she is unceremoniously fired due to budget cuts to her paper. Meanwhile, Runway is facing a scandal in which it appears the publication gave positive press to a company that employs sweatshop workers. Andie is rehired at Runway as a Features Editor to address the negative press. This scandal threatens Miranda Priestly’s (Streep) upcoming promotion to Global Content Editor for Elias-Clarke Publications. Andie, Miranda and Nigel (Stanley Tucci) must smooth things over with their advertisers, the main one being Dior. Emily (Emily Blunt) is running Dior, bringing together all these characters for a big reunion. So, is the magic still there? 
 
Hathway, Streep, Blunt and Tucci have such unbelievable chemistry. They walk right back into the stilettos of these characters like they never left. With Hathaway’s charm, Streep’s imperious attitude, Nigel‘s sarcasm and Emily’s fierceness, these actors balance each other so well. It makes the film so fun and engaging. Audiences will love spending more time with them. The film was definitely in good hands with returning director David Frankel and screenwriter Alina Brosh McKenna. It always makes fans feel more relieved when you know that the team behind it has invested in these characters and the story from the start. The film is funny, charming and insightful about the changes in modern media and their effects on the publishing business.  
 
One thing about the first film is how quotable it is. “That’s all,” "I’m one stomach flu away from my goal weight,” “Gird your loins,” “Florals for spring? Groundbreaking.” It is one of the things I love most about it. That is really missing from the second film. There are several components to the story, and many of them complement the first film's story structure. The film tries to tell so many stories and side stories that the payoff and effectiveness aren’t as precise as in the first film. It feels like the script could have had one more edit to ensure the stories flowed better. 

For the sequel, Kenneth Branagh joins the cast as Miranda’s husband, Justin Theroux as Andie’s new love interest, Lucy Liu as a billionaire, but the most exciting additions are Helen J. Shen as Andy’s new assistant and Simone Ashley as Miranda’s first assistant, Amari. Shen and Ashley are both hilarious, and more time with them would have been welcome. Ashley had me laughing out loud several times. If there ever ends up being a third film, Amari definitely needs more screentime. Additionally, Lady Gaga makes a cameo as a fictionalized version of herself in one of the film’s funniest scenes.  
 
This film is worth the trip to the movie theater. It’s a funny, charming and engaging script that reunites us with four characters we have loved for years. The only major criticism of it is that the script could have taken a little more time to be more precise, focused, and iconic. That’s all.