There’s no need for a sequel to “The Devil Wears Prada”.
So much has changed in the corporate landscape since the first film was released in 2006. The scary and perfectionist bosses like Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep) are still around, but today’s managers are more graceful and careful in hopes of removing old bad habits in the workplace.
The Miranda Priestly we know is a caricature of what to avoid as an office leader, which is why it’s refreshing to see her character get a change of pace in “The Devil Wears Prada 2”. She’s still the same Miranda we knew, but there’s vulnerability deep within as she struggles to keep her relevance in the ever-changing industry.
Runway, the fashion magazine (formerly limited to print but is now expanded to digital issues) where she works as editor-in-chief, is in grave danger after the owner died. The son who inherits his father’s empire doesn’t seem to have a connection with the brand and is looking to sell it to anyone who wishes to buy it. In the hands of the wrong buyer, the decades-long legacy that Miranda built for Runway isn’t looking good.
“The Devil Wears Prada 2” brings back the main characters of the first film. Miranda’s former assistants, Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway) and Emily Charlton (Emily Blunt), rose in their respective career ladders. Andy is a seasoned journalist who returned to Runway for an editing position, while Emily manages a major luxury brand that the magazine is servicing as a major ad client. Nigel, the art director played by Stanley Tucci, has a larger role in the sequel.
There is no need for a “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” but it manages to engage with important challenges faced by print media. At the start of the film, Andy was fired as a journalist because it was becoming harder to find her place in her company. An editorial gig at Runway made her realize that having strong reportage of the pressing issues isn’t always enough to engage with readers. I find the sequel more worthwhile than its predecessor due to its convictions, though I’m not a fan of how they resolve its conflict at the end.
The film had great performances from its returning cast, all of whom are much stronger actors than they were twenty years ago. I’m particularly impressed with how Anne Hathaway’s maturity as an actress translated to the development of Andy Sachs. The same goes for Emily Blunt, who made a mark despite a limited screen time. And well, Meryl Streep is still good as ever.
“The Devil Wears Prada 2” is a legacy sequel done right. What I appreciated is its departure from nostalgia and deciding to steer into a direction that allows its characters to constantly move forward.
“The Devil Wears Prada 2” is now showing in cinemas.
Featured images from 20th Century Studios.
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