Earlier this month, on May 1, The Devil Wears Prada 2 (DWP2) hit the box office and fans had mixed reactions.
Directed by David Frankel and Aline Brosh McKenna, the sequel mirrored realities in the fashion industry today while maintaining the original tones and providing nostalgia that fans missed.
Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Stanley Tucci and Emily Blunt reprised their roles of Miranda Priestly, Andy Sachs, Nigel Kiplin and Emily Charlton. Added to the original cast were Simone Ashley, Justin Theroux, Lucy Liu and Kenneth Branagh.
The movie picks up twenty years later. It starts with Andy losing her job, then getting re-hired by her former employer, Runway magazine, as the company is panned for publishing a puff piece on a company that uses sweatshop labor. Miranda and Nigel have to adapt to the modern workplace and new leadership. Employed by Dior and managing a new location, Emily reconnects with her original co-workers when they need her help.
“Its [magazine’s] decline is what actually drives the plot of the hit sequel,” Clarissa Cruz wrote for The New York Times. The movie is centered around the rise of artificial intelligence and the decline of physical media, as well as the necessity to create content that is quick and consumable on social media platforms. The commentary on modern-day journalism is what I found most interesting about the movie, as it parallels what is happening in the industry.
Others did not find the film as fascinating. “There are moments that shine, but they’re outdone by the clunky dialogue and tepid plotting,” Allyson Johnson wrote for But Why Tho. Personally, I thought the film was okay. I would watch it again, but it is not one of my favorites. I thought the plot moved slowly at times and Andy’s love interest was unnecessary to the plot.
The movie is still in theaters, so head to the movies and check it out for yourself.
