The Devil Wears Prada 2 Movie Review

When we were introduced to Miranda Priestly in “The Devil Wears Prada,” some of us may have compared her to a boss we once had, or perhaps thanked our lucky stars we never did. Twenty years later, we’re given more! Whether you wanted it or not, it’s here, and I know you’re curious. ​
Things are a bit different now. Miranda is only still there because Irv (Tibor Feldman), the owner, still has faith in her. In the first movie, with Miranda, Meryl Streep turned in an outstanding performance, giving us someone to despise and turn our angst toward for a moment. Her character is the editor for the incredibly well-known fashion magazine “Runway” (think Vogue), and while in the office, throws her weight around, making it known to her lemmings that she does the vital work of thinking, they do the less significant work of physical labor… mainly what she tells them to do within five seconds of being summoned.

Not much has changed except that the main characters you know and love are in different places, save for Nigel (Stanley Tucci). He’s still the magazine’s art director and Miranda’s right-hand man. She recognizes his talents, as there are things she counts on him for, but has never given him appreciation for practically giving up his life for her in countless ways. She truly isn’t interested… but maybe in this film you’ll see a glimpse of acknowledgment. I can’t say. I will say that Miranda is savage, stylish, and still has attitude. Streep may say she isn’t into clothes, but Miranda sure is!

We see Andy (Anne Hathaway), after being able to handle the high-stress challenges that came with working in the fashion industry, now working as an established journalist and reporter. She’s accepting a prestigious journalism award the moment after she and the others at her table get a text saying that the company they write for is downsizing, laying off the writers is a good start. Sadly, in the days of social media, and magazines “once being a thing,” is there much of a need for a writing staff to the billionaires who own these magazines? When you want to be more than a tabloid, and you want to have provably truthful, quality content that people need to find out about, yes. Runway is aware of this, and Andy has been brought on as their new Features Editor. When she’s first seen in the office by Nigel, he says out loud, “Look at what T.J. Maxx dragged in.” Of course, he had to have a snide remark, and this works. Another memorable line is from Miranda being told that Andy was “one of the Emily’s.”

Call-backs from the first film are used well. Even the same background music is heard, evoking a wistful longing. Emily Blunt returns as Emily, a bigshot at Dior. She’s well-off enough now to pay $1,000 for a small tote and not think a thing about it. Emily is with Benji Barnes (Justin Theroux), the wealthy ex-husband of Sasha (Lucy Liu), who uses her money for good. She’s a woman whom Miranda admires and desperately wants to feature in the magazine. Similar to a scene in the first movie where Andy is running around like mad, trying to get something done and be liked for it. She works desperately to lock down that interview. Emily tells Andy that “Shared carbs have no calories.” I heard that once, too. Luckily, I never believed it, but it’s nice to think that way when you can’t help but eat that dessert.

Was this movie necessary? No, but it’s a hell of a good time. No, it’s not as good as the original, how could it be, but it is worth seeing. Secondary characters are well established, and the originals fall back into character effortlessly. It was good to see them again. There is a flat, colorless romantic interest for Andy, Peter, played by Australian actor Patrick Brammall. It felt like something to just do rather than an important decision, in part because of director David Frankel and writer Aline Brosh McKenna, perhaps wanting to fill a void? I saw absolutely no chemistry between Hathaway and Brammall. But what you do find here are stunning clothes on the characters and on the Runway. And Streep couldn’t look better. It’s entertaining, engaging, and worth seeing… especially to hear Miranda’s comments, which do have less spice. I mean, keep in mind, people do change in the span of twenty years. Haven’t you?