Nearly two decades after the original became a cultural phenomenon, The Devil Wears Prada is back for a second, much anticipated, outing. Directed once again by David Frankel and written by Aline Brosh McKenna, this sequel doesn’t simply trade on nostalgia. Instead, it has something real to say about the state of journalism as a whole.
For fans of the first film, this is a real treat. The sharp one-liners, stunning locations, and deliciously catty humour are all present and correct. But there’s more going on beneath the surface this time. The film taps into something genuinely current, the slow death of print media and the battle for survival facing legacy magazines and newspapers in the age of ai, social media and tech billionaires.
Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway is back at Runway, finding her footing in a changed industry. while Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep) faces the very real threat of her empire becoming obsolete when the owner of Runway dies suddenly. Giving the film a stronger story than the original, without ever losing its sense of fun.
Justin Theroux plays a tech mogul who feels ripped straight from today’s headlines — think Elon Musk with a dash of Peter Thiel — and his presence gives the film a welcome satirical edge.
The cast is on brilliant form once again, but did we ever doubt them? Streep is as commanding and icy as ever, Stanley Tucci brings his trademark warmth and weariness, and Emily Blunt is an absolute scene-stealer. Reprising her role as the Emily Charlton, her cut-glass English accent renders her as gloriously villainous as ever, but with just enough heart to make you root for her.
Anne Hathaway settles comfortably back into Andy’s shoes, though her romantic subplot is the film’s weakest element. The love interest (a property millionaire played by Aussie actor Patrick Brammall) doesn’t quite convince, and those scenes drag slightly compared to the sharp energy elsewhere.
The supporting cast is geat too, with Lucy Liu adding a refreshing spin as a billionaire who actually uses her wealth for good. Celebrity cameos from the worlds of fashion and music add fun and authenticity, and a new Lady Gaga track gives the whole thing a contemporary pop gloss. Meanwhile Keneth Branagh is an absolute delight as s Stuart, Miranda’s new life partner.
Visually it’s gorgeous and the fashion, while less showy than the original, feels more purposeful, reflecting the film’s themes of legacy versus reinvention.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 works because it knows what made the first film special, while being bold enough to engage with the world as it is now. It’s smart, fun, and surprisingly sharp. The devil’s still got it, even if Miranda’s been defanged. Human Resources be damned!
