A sequel should exist for one of two reasons; there should be a compelling context in which the original film’s subject is relevant once more, or a decidedly different hook that takes the story in a new direction. “The Devil Wears Prada 2” justifies its inception for the first reason, as the idea of an independent, legacy institution under duress has become more timely than ever due to the constant media consolidations in the real world. Sliding in the characters from the first film is easy enough, and for the most part “The Devil Wears Prada 2” is able to reiterate its predecessor’s best moments without feeling like a cloying work of nostalgia. The original “The Devil Wears Prada” is a perfectly fine, crowd-pleasing film, even if it’s been remembered as being something more. That “The Devil Wears Prada 2” hits at the same register is perhaps the greatest sign of its success.
“The Devil Wears Prada 2” picks up two decades after the end of the first film, with Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway) now an independent reporter. After her entire news team is fired due to a new corporate owner, Andy is tipped off to a brewing scandal at “Runway” magazine. The legendary institution posted a review of a company that’s been revealed to be problematic, and editor Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep) is told that she needs the publication to save face. It’s around this time that “Runway” chairman Irv Ravitz (Tibor Feldman) is tipped off by his grandson Jay (B.J. Novak) that Andy has become an Internet hero for speaking about the power of the free press. As a result, Andy is welcomed back into “Runway” by Nigel Kipling (Stanley Tucci), and most once again works for Miranda.
The premise is both efficient and clever, and most importantly it gives the characters a moral clarity that makes their goals seem rather noble. There was a question as to whether the sanctity of a legacy brand which caters towards a very traditional style of fashion would work 20 years later, when there is more awareness of New York elitism, particularly in the media. However, making “The Devil Wears Prada 2” a story about the importance of media that isn’t subservient to their corporate owners serves as a reminder that Andy, Nigel, and Miranda are all outliers within their industry. Andy’s story is particularly compelling; even if “The Devil Wears Prada 2” often throws logic out the window, the thought of a respected staff being silently told to pack their belongings hits home for anyone in entertainment media.
Hathaway’s performance is terrific because she has shown a maturation in Andy, but doesn’t assume any newfound authority. While the end of the first film indicated that Andy has learned to stand up for herself, earning Miranda’s respect, it’s shown that she used this enthusiasm to make a solid career for herself that has now disappeared overnight. While it would initially seem like Miranda once again has power over, enough time has passed in real life that her doting, exacting style of management would come under fire by a younger generation who are more attuned to workplace microaggressions. Seeing Miranda have to adjust to this new culture, in which she actually has to show respect for those that work under her, serves as a reminder that Streep has always been a much better comedic actress than she is given credit for.
Also Read: Why Sydney Sweeney’s Devil Wears Prada 2 Cameo Was Cut Amid Euphoria Season 3 Buzz
It wouldn’t be a true sequel to “The Devil Wears Prada” if Emily Blunt’s character Emily Charlton wasn’t wrapped in, as it was her performance in the first film that kicked off the career of one of Hollywood’s most successful actresses. While the high-strung, mousy character was only Miranda’s overworked assistant in the first film, the sequel makes a clever choice in turning Emily into a powerful mogul in her own right who has become a powerful client for “Runway.” It feels like the appropriate development for the character, indicating that Emily’s hard work landed her a position of power, in which she now gets to exact some mild revenge on both Andy and Miranda. However, that she now has more responsibilities means that Emily is still in a constant state of motion where she must react with a stone-face to the chaos that surrounds her; Blunt plays into this amusing reiteration wonderfully, and is by far the film’s greatest scene-stealer.
The new additions to the cast are more of a mixed bag. Lucy Liu appears as the powerful businesswoman Sasha, who Miranda has desired to interview. Her character is used in a fairly predictable way, and only gets a few memorable moments; while Liu’s performance is strong, it does feel like the film’s only example of shouting a message of female empowerment to the rafters. Novak’s character is completely serviceable, and does have a few amusing moments with Streep that speak to the clash between nepo-business-owners and lifelong employees. Perhaps the most baffling performance in the film is Justin Theroux as Sasha’s ex-husband, Benji, a tech mogul who is now romantically involved with Emily. Theroux’s performance is quirky and often quite funny, but it feels as if he’s in a different film than everyone else.
The most significant improvement over the first film that “The Devil Wears Prada 2” makes is the romantic storylines. The first film was weighed down by the notorious lack of chemistry between Hathaway and Adrian Grenier, but the sequel gives Andy a new love interest in Patrick Brammall, a charismatic architect who actually seems to share some of her interests. Miranda’s husband is also introduced, and while Kenneth Branagh is vastly overqualified for the role, it seems fitting to have a thankless husband part when Hollywood is filled with far more disposable wife characters.
As was the cast in its predecessor, “The Devil Wears Prada 2” banks its heart on Tucci’s performance as Nigel; he is the snarky, but responsible caretaker of the publication who draws the powerful personalities together, and serves as a reminder of why their work is important. While it does fall into some hackneyed sequel tropes, “The Devil Wears Prada 2” makes a case for its existence, and shows that everyone involved is still engaged in what they are doing. That “The Devil Wears Prada 2” is as good as the first film could be seen as a glowing rave, a moderate recommendation, or a sign of disappointment, depending on how one feels about the original.
