“Well, look what TJ Maxx dragged in.” Nigel (Stanley Tucci)
And look what the sequel The Devil Wears Prada 2 dragged in, a snarky tribute to its 20 years ago original, The Devil Wears Prada, with something to say about the changes in journalism and publishing. Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway) returns to Runway (Think Vogue) as its new features editor after she and her staff are downsized out by the parent company.
It’s easy to see where the new Devil is going---the ruthlessness of change to save a buck reminds of a former business man becoming ruler of the world at countless battles along the corporate way. Take comfort, however, in editor Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep) still helming Runway although losing her sour bite and chastened by the dictates of survival such as the dictates of a big advertiser, Dior, (Emily Blunt at her savage best).
The artistic ideals have vanished as corporate exigency displaces wild-ass covers and vitriol-laden features. Replacing the original’s revelation of damaging ambitions even at iconic mags is petty staff struggles to save their jobs that are being altered by a corporation even more dismissive than Priestly herslf. Less a fun adventure and more daily torture chamber.
The fashion industry and almost-departed serious features are as intriguing as ever with Nigel providing the manly anchor in a ship of female fools. He provides the sagacity of an experienced designer who knows what’s up and what’s going down. If this sounds like your corporation, then welcome to Every World from Apple to KFC.
Yes, the world in DWP2 is now in corporate war that takes no prisoners and whose individual survival depends on old-fashioned cooperation. Imagine that!
Devil Wears Prada 2 is entertaining as well as occasionally insightful about corporate warfare.
Director:David Frankel (T
he Devil Wears Prada)
Screenplay: Aline Brosh McKenna (The Devil Wears Prada), Lauren Weisberger (The Devil Wears Prada)
Cast: Meryl Streep (August: Osage County), Anne Hathaway (Les Miserables)
Length: Ih 59m
Rating: PG-13
John DeSando, a Los Angeles Press Club first-place winner for National Entertainment Journalism, hosts NPR’s It’s Movie Time and Cinema Classics as well as podcasts Back Talk and Double Take (recently listed by Feedspot as two of the ten best NPR Movie Podcasts) out of WCBE 90.5 FM, Columbus, Ohio.Contact him at JohnDeSando52@gmail.com