‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ and the Difficulty of a Legacy Sequel
Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada 2 | Credit: 20th Century Studios
20 years later, Andy Sacks (Anne Hathaway) is well into her career as a journalist when she hits a roadblock. She finds herself where she never expected to be: working at Runway again, under the leadership of Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep).
To my surprise, this film is a ton of fun. Honestly, I had low expectations for The Devil Wears Prada 2, but I had a blast watching it in theaters. I do have some issues with the screenplay and some of the character choices, but that doesn’t negate just how great this is to experience in theaters.
It is no surprise that a big part of why this film works so well is the principal original cast returning for the sequel. Meryl Streep is still at the top of her game, slipping back into the role of Miranda Priestly with a sense of ease. She is still the same Miranda we’ve come to know and love, but she’s also been through some things. And we can see how she has been forced to change in the past twenty years.
Stanley Tucci also returns as Nigel (my personal favorite character of the series) and hasn’t lost a single step. Nigel is still the sassy fashionista that we met twenty years ago, still diligently doing his work while firing out perfectly-constructed insults with a smile. While he is still working at Runway and working for Miranda, we see how he has adapted to the times. He is still wielding his immense influence (albeit with a smaller budget) incredibly well.
Andy, of course, is again played by Anne Hathaway, who is having quite the year! In the ensuing twenty years, she has grown as an actress, and while this film doesn’t do anything to challenge her talent, she seems to be having an absolute ball. The same is true for Emily Blunt, who returns as Emily. After twenty years apart, Emily has pivoted from the magazine side of fashion to the commercial side of things and has created quite a life for herself there. This is a fantastic choice for this character, who has always been striving for more.
This film does an excellent job of catching us up on what these characters have been doing for the last twenty years and then guiding us into their next chapter. And when the four of them interact, it is just as fun as the original film. The actors have incredible chemistry that absolutely radiates through the screen.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 is a ton of fun, but it’s not without its flaws. I want to dive into some of the less effective parts of the film, which will mean that I will spoil some things. So if you haven’t seen the movie and don’t want it spoiled, please don’t read on.
Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep, and Stanley Tucci in The Devil Wears Prada 2 | Credit: 20th Century Studios
For me, the biggest flaw in The Devil Wears Prada 2 is the screenplay. And I want to acknowledge that writing a screenplay for a sequel for a beloved film twenty years after its original release is a near-impossible task. But you feel the difficulty in the writing process while watching the film.
There were so many plot points that felt like they were happening not because they made sense for the characters, but because they were needed for the plot. Andy accepting the job at Runway was one of them. It makes sense that after losing her job, Andy would be looking for another job, especially living in New York City. But I struggled to believe that she would go back to such a toxic work environment, especially because her moment of victory at the end of the first film was being able to walk away.
For me, personally, I would’ve liked to have seen Andy struggling financially and trying other publications first before accepting the position at Runway. She isn’t unemployed for all that long, and yet, she is willing to jump on this opportunity as soon as she gets the call. I struggled to believe that choice for this character… but maybe that’s just me. (I also realize that the film has to get Andy and Miranda back as quickly as possible for this film to work.)
The Devil Wears Prada 2 is also trying to accomplish a lot in this one film. At times, it feels disjointed, and certain themes or plot points aren’t as fully explored as they could be. And a lot of these are really important ideas that we are dealing with in our world today—the decline of journalism and print media, the tech billionaires who are gobbling up so many companies, the role of AI in our world today, and the devaluing of art. That’s a lot to cover, and I think the film makes a lot of really important points. But it did feel overstuffed.
A romantic interest for Andy is also randomly added to the story for seemingly no reason at all. Cutting his part of the film could’ve helped reduce the runtime and allow for a greater exploration of these characters and themes. And, without the love interest, we wouldn’t have needed the whole storyline of her buying that incredibly expensive apartment that no journalist could ever afford.
Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada 2 | Credit: 20th Century Studios
Even with its flaws, The Devil Wears Prada 2 is a lot of fun to watch. Seeing the original cast back in these iconic roles is a wonderful experience, and this is definitely a film that’s worth seeing in the theaters if you are able.
Bringing a sequel to a beloved film to life twenty years after its original release is a nearly impossible task. And yet, The Devil Wears Prada 2 does a good job at it. The characters are still those we had come to know and love, and, because the actors are having such a great time, it’s an absolute blast to watch!