“Gird your loins!”

This is one of the most iconic lines in one of the most iconic movies, “The Devil Wears Prada.” The first production is such a glamorous and exceptional movie that I could never get bored of watching because of its flawless mix of fashion and journalism, leaving the viewers with a strong message. With the first film having a 75% on the Tomatometer and the second having a 79%, this new movie is doing surprisingly well in its first two weeks. I was hoping to receive the same level of flair and fashion despite the first movie being released in 2006 and the sequel this year, but the movie failed to exceed my expectations. I felt like the sequel didn’t necessarily “need” to happen because of too much going on at the same time.

The Plot- 

When the movie started, I was exceedingly excited because it had the same sort of feel as the first one. Five minutes in, there was a plot point: Andy, played by Anne Hathaway, was fired from her publication. Then, about 45 minutes later, another plot twist: Irv, played by Tibor Feldman, the head of Elias Clarke, died. Then about another thirty minutes in, another plot change: Emily, played by Emily Blunt, deceived Andy with her intentions for Runway. Then once more, another plot element: Andy and Miranda, played by Meryl Streep, work together to save Runway. This was too much for me. Too many consecutive plots, that even though there were so many, the overall storyline was weak. While I do appreciate being thrown into conflict five minutes into the movie, it felt like the overall solution dragged on from too many things leading to another, making the whole thing overwhelming. With the overall plot being saving Runway, the movie took too long to get there. Loved the final product of seeing Miranda work with Andy and Miranda seeing her more as just one of the ‘Emily’s’, but I didn’t like the amount of time in the film it took us to get to that point.

The Characters-

The main factor that stayed the same was the dynamic between Miranda and Andy. Andy, yet again, was trying to please Miranda, even though she wasn’t working for her until later in the movie. Even though she was Miranda’s doormat in the first film, she now appears as a much more mature and self-confident version of herself. Having her own form of style and way of being, this strengthened her ability to call some shots, especially as an award-winning journalist herself, proving her growth and independence to Miranda. Beyond the overall gap in time between the first and second movie, kudos to the actors for aging flawlessly. With everyone looking the same as they did 20 years ago, it definitely added to the relevance and maturity of the characters. 

The Fashion and Journalism-

May I say that the iconic fashion and luxury of all of the outfits did not disappoint. From the opening outfit introducing Miranda to the outfits for walking around the streets of New York, they kept the essence from the prequel, with bigger and brighter styles. The clothing choices this time around were modernized and fit today’s fashion trends, making the movie an adaptation into current styles. My favorite outfit? The cerulean sweater, of course. Details like this one reminisce the lightheartedness of the first film. Now, here’s the thing: I do feel that while it still included the fashion side of the production, this second one focused more on journalism and how it’s changing rather than the fashion industry. With the main concern being saving the writing of Runway and its authenticity of showing real journalism, this, rather than fashion, covered the overall conflict. While I did like seeing a softer side of Miranda in caring about her business, she wasn’t very fashion-industry-motivated beyond the outfits that she put on, taking away the “Prada” aspect of the production. 

The Message-

As a viewer of movies like these, I really enjoy whenever they have a strong message that the plot was meant to make the viewers realize. My takeaway from the first film was to stick to your morals and values and stand by them, no matter how your life changes. While I do still believe that this was still semi-present in this second movie with all of the characters holding on to who they are internally despite external factors, there wasn’t an overall captivating theme or message. Because of the different conflict points all affecting the storyline differently, this sequel didn’t leave me with something strong or powerful to remember.

Overall-

However, for being a follow-up film to one of the most legendary movies ever made, it was well executed in relation to how other sequels have done in recent years. Grossing $433.3 million globally in only two weeks, the production has made four times its initial $100 million budget. Having cameos from Law Roach to Ciara, this movie covered all corners in making sure it stayed relevant and trendy, even including a Lady Gaga concert mid film. Although I did feel that it was overwhelming from too many concepts and points of conflict, it kept the New Yorker core and elegance, still showing the same-old-same-old dynamics and flair. 

“That’s all.”