The Devil Wears Prada 2 – Movie Reviews by Ry!

The Devil Wears Prada 2 – Of Writers and High Heels: It is all the Rage…

From one thing to the next, life provides a place where passion and growth collide.  With one foot in front of another, we take steps full of memories, but also one’s where the unknown becomes a mirror of something new.  In film, this may be filled with a mixture of clichés and dynamic characters, but the grip of that human detail will spring about something more.  In this review, I look at the latest sequel in a popular film franchise.  As we return back to the world of fashion, we embark on a tale that adds new layers to the familiar.  Even with some predictability, The Devil Wears Prada 2 is a riveting tale where dresses and heels become something more on life’s runway. 

When unexpected fallouts lead to an unlikely reunion, careers are put on the line when a traditional fashion magazine must find a way to be new again.  Whenever you see that a film is getting a sequel, there is always a sense of caution of what comes next.  When you see it is a sequel to a film after more than a decade, then it becomes a question of why. Returning to a dormant franchise is risky, but where challenges arise … creativity may spring something refreshing.  This latest entry dances with nostalgia, but finds a way to make our returning characters feel anew.  As we come back to this world of writers and fashion, we first meet up with our returning character, Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway).  Through the first act, we learn she has been a writer/journalist for decades, but as she is reaching the pinnacle of her career, she finds herself once again looking for a job.  Through some convenient plot driven elements, she is hired again by the fashion magazine Runway, working not as an assistant but as a feature writer for Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep).  This unlikely re-paring is brought together because the fashion magazine has hit a snag, and the duo have to find a way to keep it afloat in the age of digital media (Plot Point).  From here, the journey to ‘save the magazine’ is filled with familiar elements of the original film, but it is propped up with an evolving mix of characterization and thematic traits of personal worth.  As Andy and Miranda are readjusting to working together, they also balance the purpose of journalism in the world of social media.  The struggle is filled with layers of subtle comedy and raw drama, a battling of familiar tropes that are obvious, hilarious but ironically wholesome.  It is a carryon from the original, but also an evolution of what makes this sequel feel anew.  From Andy and Miranda’s new dynamic, to their interactions with returning characters like Nigel (Stanley Tucci) and Emily Charlton (Emily Blunt), there is a renewed sense in the familiar.  Each interaction becomes less frivolous and more poignant because of their own unique experiences and personal stances.  From the journalistic aspiration to Runway’s relevancy, the journey of our characters rises above the generalization of this just being another throwaway sequel.

As our characters navigate the fashion world, familiar tropes come into play.  From one-dimensional characters from the new cast (you can view the list at the film’s IMDb page – link) to manufactured conflict, it causes some of the film’s momentum to be dragged down.  Even as things seem to be slipping away, that duo of Andy and Miranda pulls us back to the heart of the tale.  With Runaway’s future on the line, we head into a third act of convenient mishaps, but end in revelations that propel our characters to a genuine climax and epilogue.   The Devil Wears Prada 2 is a sequel that does more than expected.  If you are a fan of the original, those involved or fashion, there is something here for you.   There are films that rise above its sequel status, and this one does … fulfilling that full price experience. 

Full Score – 4 out of 5 (Full Price)