Director: David Frankel
Starring: Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway and Emily Blunt
‘A Spectacular Sequel’
When it comes to the greatest movies ever made about managers with charisma, it’s worth discussing The Devil Wears Prada. Released in 2006, David Frankel’s film earned recognition for depicting managers with love for fashion. On a personal level, I find the film’s depiction of devilish bosses relatable. At an early age, I formed strong bonds with a stylish manager that loved seeing fashion shows on stage. Drawn towards the house of Gucci, she enjoyed purchasing fancy accessories from famous fashion brands that she loved dearly. Fond of wearing Prada shoes, she found fancy fashion accessories hard to refuse. A pretty woman, her ambition in life was to become a famous figure in the world of fashion. Despite her passion for fashion, however, my manager had emotional issues causing tension. If there was any fault in her personality, she often treated employees with cruelty. Having a rigid style, she treated employees in ways which proved hostile. Like Miranda Priestly, she was a strict manager in a position of authority that treated employees with cruelty. While most employees considered her to be devilish, I would cherish time I spent with a stylish boss that gave me goals to accomplish. Shining a bright light in darkness, she ensured my pursuit of happiness in business. Even when she wasn’t always nice, I respected a manager that gave me business advice. However, fate brought bonds to a closure. When my contract expired, I bid tearful farewell to a manager I admired. It was heartbreaking to part ways with a manager I would praise. Feeling hopeless, loss of a manager I considered a flawless person left me clueless. Experiencing despair, the absence of a manager that gave me career prospects left life up in the air. Looking back in reflection, I’ve gained respect for a promising young woman that admired fashion. Years later, I treasure an inspirational manager with a devilish nature that changed my life forever.
As someone treasuring a devilish manager making dreams come true, I loved “The Devil Wears Prada 2”. Released in 2026, David Frankel’s movie honoured an iconic fashion film. Packed with breathtaking fashion, engaging storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s a spectacular sequel. At the centre of it all is Meryl Streep, who embodies a fashion manager. Although “The Devil Wears Prada 2” is a spectacular sequel, it isn’t flawless. Its unevenly paced, lacking the first film’s compelling ending. Nevertheless, it offers engaging entertainment for fashion dramas.
Set 20 years after the first film, “The Devil Wears Prada 2” follows fashion editors seeking to make dreams come true. Anne Hathaway embodies Andy Sachs, a fashion journalist seeking success. Assisted by boss Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep), Andy returns to magazines she loves dearly. However, Andy’s life changes when she discovers her job is in danger. Facing obstacles that are devilish, Andy questions love for jobs she used to cherish.
David Frankel is fascinated with fashion designers that are successful. His iconic film “The Devil Wears Prada” offered a dazzling portrait of devilish managers with charisma. With “The Devil Wears Prada 2”, however, Frankel crafted his first sequel. It’s the filmmaker’s first attempt to create a sequel to a beloved movie about fashion but he succeeds tremendously. Evoking Garry Marshall’s “Pretty Woman”, Frankel effectively uses montages to capture the lives of women that love fashion. For instance, montages elevate the Runway Gala scene. During this unforgettable scene, Miranda attends a fancy ceremony that showcases her love for fashion. It brought back heartwarming memories of a manager that acknowledged fashion that shaped her identity. Montages are tricky techniques. As Phyllida Lloyd’s “Mamma Mia!” demonstrated, montages elevate commemorated Broadway musical adaptations. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this film. Using breathtaking visuals, Frankel captures tensions that fashion managers are facing.
Another admirable aspect of “The Devil Wears Prada 2” that merits appreciation is the production. As gorgeous as the Runway magazine, the film features stunning costumes that demand to be seen on the big-screen. Evoking Ridley Scott’s “House of Gucci”, Frankel uses costumes to showcase managers in positions of authority. Throughout the movie, Miranda’s costumes showcase her position as a manager. For instance, costumes elevate the reunion scene. During this unforgettable scene, Miranda humiliates Andy for her poor fashion style. It reminded me of a strict manager that mistreated her employees leaving them emotionally devastated. Moreover, the musical score is magnificent. It gives the movie an intense atmosphere capturing the gorgeous clothes fashion managers wear. Through phenomenal production, Frankel honours the art of fashion.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “The Devil Wears Prada 2” is a sequel that’s engaging. In Hollywood, most movies rarely offer a sympathetic depiction of fashion-designers whose lives are misunderstood. For instance, Paul Thomas Anderson’s “Phantom Thread” depicted cruel fashion-designers struggling finding love with muses whose clothes they thread. Thankfully, however, “The Devil Wears Prada 2” avoids pitfalls. Evoking Jason Reitman’s “Up in the Air”, Frankel uses monologues capturing burden managers bear. For instance, dramatic monologues elevate the car discussion scene. During this heartfelt scene, Miranda has intimate one-on-one conversations with Andy. It reminded me of my strong bond with a business manager whose positive feedback I appreciated. Monologues are tricky techniques. As Gabriele Muccino’s “The Pursuit of Happyness” suggested, monologues elevate films about fathers. Nevertheless, it works tremendously. Through a spectacular screenplay, Frankel honours a fashion movie that’s beloved today.
One appreciates phenomenal performances.
Meryl Streep delivers one of her best career performances as Miranda Priestly. Streep first earned appreciation for playing heroines in period pieces. With “The Devil Wears Prada 2”, however, she took on her most complex role. It isn’t easy to portray a devilish manager, but she succeeds. Evoking Carey Mulligan in Emerald Fennell’s “Promising Young Woman”, Streep embodies a promising young woman struggling to run a fashion organization. With riveting expressions, she captures the angst, determination and grief of a manager struggling to run organizations. It’s a phenomenal performance from one of the finest actresses in Hollywood today.
While the movie is mainly a stunning showcase for Meryl Streep, the supporting cast is also spectacular. Anne Hathaway is astonishing, bringing charisma to a fashion journalist seeking to find a way to succeed in a profession that’s competitive today. Emily Blunt is extraordinary, capturing fierce personality of a fashion editor that seeks to manage her own company. Lastly, Stanley Tucci merits appreciation. As Nigel, he brings wisdom to the movie.
Despite its extraordinary performances, however, “The Devil Wears Prada 2” can’t quite capture hardships fashion managers go through. Frankel’s decision to integrate romantic subplots into the movie is bold but hinders pacing. Due to this faulty technique, scenes capturing Andy’s love affair aren’t always as engaging as her fashion career. Whereas the first film focused on Andy’s career, the sequel gets sidetracked by the subplot about a romantic affair. As Amy Heckerling’s “Clueless” demonstrated, love subplots elevate coming-of-age movies about teen girls. Moreover, the film lacks a strong ending. It’s an ambiguous ending that lacks resolution. At worst, it perpetuates false messages about the profession of fashion that aren’t true to reality. Therefore, “The Devil Wears Prada 2” can’t entirely honour a classic fashion film that audiences adore.
Nevertheless, fans of Meryl Streep will definitely enjoy “The Devil Wears Prada 2” and so would audiences seeking fashionable entertainment. A spectacular sequel, it celebrates an iconic movie about managers that are fashionable.
Nearly 20 years following the release of a groundbreaking film about a devilish manager with goals to accomplish, it’s a riveting reminder that stories of fashion designers are worth telling in memorable movies audiences cherish.
As powerful as Miranda’s love for fashion, it has given me the motivation to move on several years after parting ways with a manager that treated employees without consideration by treasuring a commemorated boss that gave me greater understanding about the hardships of operating a successful organization.
4/5 stars
The Film Buff 