After 20 years, Andrea “Andy” Sachs (Anne Hathaway) finds herself back at the famed fashion magazine, Runway, in The Devil Wears Prada 2. With the magazine and Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep) facing a crisis, Andy is swept back into the chaotic world of fashion to help fix the problem. However, while she might be remembered by the likes of Nigel (Stanley Tucci) and Emily (Emily Blunt), Miranda doesn’t seem to recall Andy at all – which might be in Andy’s best interest.
With the changing media landscape and the way media is consumed, all the characters are rightfully on edge. Just because you’re an award-winning journalist doesn’t mean that you’re safe from budget cuts, downsizing, and the gradual disappearance of physically published magazines and newspapers. With the Runway crew on high alert, all eyes are on Andy, who’s been brought in to try to save the day. Will her efforts be enough, or will she be set up to fail by Miranda again? Well, you’ll have to see the movie to find out.
Ahead of the sequel, I happily watched the first film to relive the iconic moments, line deliveries, and fashion montages. Of course, it was also watched to ensure I was prepared for the new movie. With the first film fresh in my mind, I do think I preferred The Devil Wears Prada to The Devil Wears Prada 2, but that doesn’t mean I disliked the second one. The brightest beacon in all of this is the glorious cast. Despite the time that has gone by, the cast is still as delightful as ever, all of them slipping back into their previous roles with ease.
Streep effortlessly steps back into Priestly’s pumps and struts through the office with ease, expecting the best, and often, the impossible from all her employees. Streep remains iconic as the esteemed fashion editor, and, alongside Hathaway’s Andy, the two are a match made in heaven, just as in the first film. Of course, there’s no Devil Wears Prada 1 or 2 without Tucci’s Nigel and Blunt’s Emily. Just like their counterparts, it seems as if no time has been spent away from their respective characters. Their sharp wit and quippy insults (typically directed at Andy’s way) are still intact, adding to the comedic relief throughout the movie.
Newcomers to The Devil Wears Prada 2 include Simone Ashley as Amari, Helen J. Shen as Jin, and Caleb Hearon as Charlie. The trio are all assistants at Runway, with Ashley’s Amari having seniority as the current Emily/Andy. Unfortunately, while the trio do have speaking parts throughout the movie, they’re not given all that much to do. In fact, Shen is the only one who really moves the plot along with a significant moment in the middle of the film. But other than that, if they were removed from the film entirely, it wouldn’t change anything. While I know the film isn’t about them, it just seemed odd to introduce them, but ultimately have them do so little.
Aside from the cast’s continued perfection, perhaps the best part of the film is its timeliness in tackling the current state of the media and publishing industry. Most of us who have worked in some form of media are aware of the changing landscape and how it affects our work. With everyone’s need to take in media as quickly as possible, the move from traditionally published magazines and papers to online, including all the memeable content everyone demands, alongside the rise of influencers, we see the staff at Runway and beyond trying to pivot swiftly to accommodate all these changes. It showed the frustration, the unfairness, and how valuable journalism gets tossed aside for viral, easily digestible entertainment and soundbites. This was the film’s truest aspect, and it was done well.
That said, the film falters in some of its other story beats and in its pacing. I don’t want to spoil anything, as viewers should be able to enjoy the film on their own terms, so I won’t delve too deeply into those specific plot points. Some felt a little too outlandish, and the humour surrounding them fell a little flat for me. As for the pacing, at times, the film doesn’t chug along as smoothly as the previous one, feeling a little long in spots and a little short in others. For some moments, I wanted to know more and would have liked certain story beats to be more fleshed out, while others overstayed their welcome.
While the movie may not have as many moments as the first where you find yourself girding your loins, it’s still worth a watch for the performances alone, and to see the trajectory of the characters 20 years later. Boasting the return of a pitch-perfect cast, clever commentary on the current state of the media (“I love my job. I love my job. I love my job.”), and, of course, all the wonderful fashion, The Devil Wears Prada 2 makes for a fun time at the theatre.
Muses of Media 
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