The world must be changing fast and beyond recognition if even Miranda Priestly can’t afford to be nonchalant anymore. Played by Meryl Streep in the 2006 film, it was a rare instance of a star marrying the material.
The Devil Wears Prada 2: A Sturdy, Satisfying Sequel That Resists Simple Nostalgia
The Wire 1 week ago
Around the same time, Miranda becomes fodder for social media trolls after it's revealed that Runway platformed a brand that employs sweatshops. By sheer Hollywood rom-com contrivance, the unemployed Andy lands a job at Runway - to lead a features team that can restore credibility. So, here we are again - Andy pleading for Miranda's validation.
A satisfying sequel can be a tricky thing to navigate - how does one chart new waters, while keeping the flavour of the original intact? McKenna's script is bold in the right ways, updating itself to the 2026 discourse without being heavy-handed.
In a hilarious scene, Miranda is seen struggling to hang her own coat - surprising Andy, who is told that some HR complaints reined in her previous habit of flinging her coats on her assistants (including Andy). In her edit meets, Miranda is policed by her assistant on the politically correct terminology while conveying her diktats.
The 2006 film found an unlikely underdog in the form of a high-end magazine catering to the 1% - demanding audiences to look beyond its 'frivolous' exterior, and laud the passion and hard work that actually goes into designing seasonal collections; curating taste for the masses. The sequel makes a brave dash by grappling with the paranoia of journalism today. Where publications get acquired overnight, or have to downsize, or become a part of major strategic restructuring, or are forced to shut shop because of totalitarian regimes - most journalists will tell you how dystopian it all really is.
To the credit of The Devil Wears Prada 2, underneath all its colours, one-liners and optimism, the dread around the state of journalism remains palpable.
One thing I'd enjoyed about the original film was how British (shorthand for sophisticated and deadpan) it was in its repartee. In one of my favourite lines of dialogue, Stanley Tucci's Nigel advises Andy about how to dress for an important lunch, where the vibe is 'quiet luxury'. When Andy picks a colourful dress, Nigel snaps - "it's a screaming guitar solo!" Tucci, one of the finest working character actors in Hollywood, plays Nigel as a portrait of grace and fortitude.
Hathaway, one of the most accomplished actresses today, showcases how no one does the klutzy, upstart New Yorker routine better than her - nailing her physical comedy and stutters.
Emily Blunt - who has also gone on to become a tremendously accomplished actress in her own right - returns as Emily (Miranda's first assistant). It takes a special kind of talent to make the most shallow, vicious person look like a victim of her insatiable greed, limitless pettiness and oversized ego. "Hide your feelings for once," Emily tells Andy as they brace themselves for a difficult conversation with Miranda.
I loved Justin Theroux in the role of an eccentric billionaire (probably modelled on Musk), who acts at the speed of thought, and dreams about automating entire industries at some point.
But it's Streep as Miranda Priestly who continues to confound with her performance, alternating the beats of a snob and someone vulnerable, with elan. During a particular moment in the film, we see the camera trained on Miranda - and we see the person she's become; a crusader about to be replaced by machines. She reaches her hotel room, and asks her spouse (Kenneth Branagh) about how one knows when their time is up. It's hard not to imagine Streep delving into a personal wound as a 76-year-old actress working in Hollywood, itself notorious for pushing women out as soon as they outlast their 'utility'.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 is a sturdy, satisfying sequel, which refuses to cash its cheques of nostalgia, while wearing its existential heart on its sleeve. Both McKenna's script and Frankel's direction hint at how they've read about the cultural legacy of the original film. It's a miracle that they've been able to conjure a similar kind of magic as the first film, while going in an entirely new direction.
The star cameos aren't awkward, and don't draw attention to themselves - which is the first rule for a star cameo. The fan service in the sequel never hits us over our heads. I liked how much they were able to pack into the 119-minute runtime, including scenes between Miranda/Nigel, Emily/Andy and Andy/Miranda. I think the cast knows they won't bring the film back for another round, so, this might be one way to give the audience closure on them.
Even in a film championing American consumerism - selling an aspirational lifestyle - it's good to see the tenets of decency aren't violated. As Miranda tells Andy towards the end, "We're good … for now" - a cautious admission for how volatile the world is. A 'chick flick' is the last place I expected to be reflecting on the uncertainty we're living through.
*The Devil Wears Prada 2 is playing in theatres
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