The Devil Wears Prada 2 (English) Review {3.5/5} & Review Rating
Star Cast: Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt
Director: David Frankel
The Devil Wears Prada 2 Movie Review Synopsis:
THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA 2 is the story of a woman reuniting with her old boss and colleagues. Andrea Sachs aka Andy (Anne Hathaway) works at New York Vanguard as an acclaimed journalist. Moments before she goes on stage to receive an award for her work at the NY PC Awards, she learns that she and her teammates have been fired as part of downsizing measures. The same day, Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep), the editor-in-chief of Runway Magazine, faces backlash after an article appears about its association with SpeedFash, a company accused of unhealthy working conditions. Irv Ritviz (Tibor Feldman), chairman of Runway, is rattled by the trolling and berates Miranda for it. Miranda is stressed as she is about to be promoted to Global Head of Content at the Elias-Clarke Group and this episode threatens her chances. Meanwhile, Irv happens to see a viral video of Andy reacting to getting fired at the awards and making a statement about journalistic integrity. Irv calls Andy and asks her to join Runway as the editor of the Features department. As a result, life comes full circle for Andy as she gets to work under Miranda yet again. Miranda pretends not to remember Andy and gives her the cold shoulder. However, she is welcomed fondly by Nigel Kipling (Stanley Tucci), Miranda’s longtime right-hand man. On the first day, Andy joins Miranda and Nigel at the office of Dior, which accounts for 16% of Runway’s advertising and is livid over the SpeedFash story. To their surprise, they meet Emily Charlton (Emily Blunt), who is now a senior executive at Dior. As expected, it leads to nostalgia for all of them, but the dynamics have changed and they behave accordingly. Andy writes an apology piece in Runway and it gets the thumbs up. However, her stories are not getting enough traction and Andy needs to do something newsworthy yet in tune with her principles to drive views. What happens next forms the rest of the film.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 Movie Story Review:
Aline Brosh McKenna's story organically moves the narrative forward and is peppered with relatable plot points. Aline Brosh McKenna's screenplay is breezy and in sync with the tone of the first part. The dialogues are sharp and add to the fun and drama.
David Frankel’s direction is splendid and does justice to the plot at hand. The first part is loved for its ode to fashion and this aspect is present in abundance in the sequel. Expect collective sighs in cinemas as the characters are seen wearing the classiest outfits and carrying dazzling accessories. At the same time, viewers will immediately notice how it’s a film of today. It touches upon talented individuals losing jobs overnight, that too over a text; magazines being compelled to move online; management graduates teaching veterans how to run companies, etc. Also amusing is the way Miranda is compelled to tone down her devilish behaviour because of HR policies, while Amari (Simone Ashley), Miranda’s first assistant, constantly reminds her of the dos and don’ts. But what works best is the equation between Andy and Miranda and how things have changed and yet, also remain the same. The narrative has references and callbacks to the first part, which add a nice touch. There’s a major twist at the mid-point and that adds a lot to the story. The pre-climax is touching and unexpected, while the finale will leave a smile on viewers’ faces.
On the flipside, after a great start, the interest dips a bit in the middle of the first half. One wonders where the film is heading and whether it’ll be a worthy sequel. Things happen rather conveniently in the third act, especially the whole takeover angle. Lastly, the ‘A’ rating is completely unjustified and might keep a section of the viewers away.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 Movie Review Performances:
Meryl Streep delivers as per expectations. The balance between Miranda’s devilish side and her vulnerability, albeit shown very subtly, is beautifully brought out by the seasoned actor. Anne Hathaway gets completely into the skin of her character and proves yet again why she continues to be one of the finest actors today. Emily Blunt doesn’t have much to do initially, but later on, she makes her presence felt. The scene where Andy tells her character how happy she was to see her do well in life is lovely. Emily brings the required bossy attitude with panache. Stanley Tucci is truly adorable and this time, he’s sure to leave moviegoers moist-eyed in a crucial scene. Tibor Feldman and Simone Ashley lend able support. Lucy Liu (Sasha Barnes) is too good in a special appearance, while Justin Theroux (Benji Barnes) is entertaining. Patrick Brammall (Peter, Andy’s love interest) makes his presence felt. Tracie Thoms (Lily, Andy’s friend) and Kenneth Branagh (Stuart, Miranda’s husband) are okay in small roles. Caleb Hearon (Charlie, Miranda’s second assistant) and Helen J Shen (Jin Chao, Andy’s assistant) are memorable. B. J. Novak (Jay Ravitz) gets to play a strong character; however, the impact is diluted a bit due to the writing. Lady Gaga is hilarious in a cameo.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 movie music and other technical aspects:
Theodore Shapiro's music is well-woven into the narrative. Florian Ballhaus's cinematography is top-notch. The locales of New York and Milan are shot breathtakingly. Jess Gonchors's production design is classy. Molly Rogers's costumes are awe-inspiring and one of the highlights of the film, as expected. Andrew Marcus's editing is satisfactory.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 Movie Review Conclusion:
On the whole, THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA 2 is a well-made entertainer that works due to its ode to fashion, splendid performances, sharp take on the present-day realities of journalism and moments that make viewers smile and also leave them moist-eyed. The first part enjoys cult status and this has resulted in healthy advance sales. Hence, the film is expected to work big time in India despite releasing only in English.