Devil Wears Prada Is Back! a Review on the Movie

After twenty years of anticipation, "The Devil Wears Prada" returned to theaters with the sequel, "The Devil Wears Prada 2." This movie was a cult classic in the 2000s, with many fans wanting to dress like the movie characters. Now, the movie remains a hit, still being a popular choice for viewers.

"The Devil Wears Prada 2" was released on May 1. Since then, many viewers have had mixed opinions on the movie, some loving it and some believing that it does not do the original justice. I am a longtime "The Devil Wears Prada" fan. I have seen the movie about fifty times and am one of the million girls who would love to have Andy Sachs' job. So, here is my review on the movie.

Characters

Overall, the characters were pretty good in this movie. One big win here was that all of the main characters returned for the sequel. In this movie, they mostly stayed true to their original characters, with a few exceptions.

Miranda Priestly

As usual, Meryl Streep did a spectacular job. Miranda Priestley was still the intense editor-in-chief of Runway. She had her moments where she was ruthless, such as the scene with Lady Gaga, forgetting about Andy Sachs, the economy incident and her reaction to Emily trying to replace her as editor-in-chief.

However, one big shift here was that Priestly was less mean than she was in the original movie. I thought that this really made the sequel not do the original justice. Priestly is known for being cold hearted and mean, yet in the sequel, she was more nice than she was mean, taking away one of the most iconic parts of the first movie.

While it is true that the movie shows print media becoming less relevant and budget cuts, Priestley's reaction to those were not fully accurate for her character. If it were more accurate to the original, Priestley would have had more scenes similar to the economy incident.

So, no, The Devil Wears Prada 2 did not portray Miranda Priestly correctly.

Image Credit: Laura Chouette from Unsplash.

Andy Sachs

Andy Sachs remained very similar to how she was in the first movie, except this time, she had more confidence. She stayed true to her original character with her career, awards and speech in the beginning of the movie. Her focus on integrity and social consciousness was also aligned with her original character.

While it made since that Sachs would want Priestly's approval, it went a bit too far in this movie. For someone who has built an impressive career in journalism, she needed to still have the confidence that she did in the beginning of the film. Instead, it showed more of a regression into her old self.

Emily Charlton

Emily Charlton was perfect in this movie. Between dating a billionaire, insulting people, her skincare routine and wanting revenge on Priestly for pushing her out of Runway, everything that Charlton did was so accurate for her character. Not to mention, Emily Blunt did a fantastic job in this film.

Charlton was one of the highlights of the movie. She had one of the most noticeable changes in this movie, going from an uptight assistant to a self-assured boss. I loved how she gave Priestly a hard time about Dior advertising, showing how she is more confident than ever in her new role.

Nigel

Nigel was another character who was portrayed flawlessly. He was still the funny, witty and empathetic character that we loved from the first film. He continues to tell people the truth and not spare their feelings while simultaneously taking care of those around him. We can see this through the way that he treated Andy. He was not always nice, by telling her what she needed to hear. However, he got her the job at Runway, showing his soft side.

Image Credit: Charlota Blunarova from Unsplash.

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Plot

The main plot in this movie was great for keeping up with modern trends. It shows the decline of print media's relevance and the struggle to keep physical magazines alive. It also highlights the downsides of social media and online content, especially how people tend to just keep scrolling.

One plotline that was great was Charlton trying to buy Runway for herself. At the beginning of the movie, we learn that Priestley pushed Charlton out of Runway, forcing her into a job at Dior. Charlton wants revenge, so she tries to have her billionaire boyfriend buy Runway for her, which would make her editor-in-chief. I really like how she tricked Sachs, showing her desperation to get the magazine for herself.

Another element of the plot that was fantastic was Priestley's struggles. In the original, the world would bend to her will; she was an ultra-powerful figure. However, in the sequel, Priestley is not getting everything she wants and the glamour of her role is fading. She still has control, but it is clear that she is aware of the constantly changing world around her.

I thought that the HR censorship was hilarious. Instead of simply saying and doing what she wants, Priestly now has to change her word choice to be more appropriate and hang her own coats. This is just another example of Priestley losing her luxurious lifestyle and power, which highlights her awareness of her own role slowly fading into irrelevance.

Sachs' boyfriend was unnecessary. That's all.

Image Credit: Michael Lee from Unsplash.

Fashion

This would not be a review of "The Devil Wears Prada 2" without mentioning fashion. The first film is known for its iconic style, with Anne Hathaway even re-wearing a coat from the original movie to promote the sequel. However, the fashion in this movie was lackluster.

The office style in this film was meant to be more modern, which was done well. Sachs' outfits showed a more modern office look, with pantsuits and sweater vests. However, while this film was meant to show the difference that twenty years can make, it did not live up to the expectations that viewers had.

As far as office style goes, these characters are still working at Runway. They should still be more dressed up for the office than they were in this film. The office fashion was honestly really boring, leaving viewers wanting more from the film.

However, Simone Ashley’s style was a highlight of the film. She looked great in every scene that she was in, including those in the office.

Another element that was not great was the geometric dress that Sachs wore. It was not giving the glamorous feel that the fashion in this movie should have.

This sequel needed to listen to Nigel's iconic quote from the first movie, "You're in desperate need of Chanel."

Image Credit: Laura Chouette from Unsplash.

Conclusion

As far as sequels go, this was not the worst, yet it was certainly not the best. While the plot was fun and relevant, some of the characters were missing the personality traits that made them special. Most importantly, the fashion left a lot of room for improvement. If you are looking for a fun movie to watch with friends, this is a solid choice. However, I would pick the original movie over "The Devil Wears Prada 2" in a heartbeat.