The Devil Wears Prada 2

Prequel: “The Devil Wears Prada” (2006)

Amidst the AMC Theaters opening night flood of high-heeled women and high expectations from the same, I walked into “The Devil Wears Prada 2” with my wife and absolutely no prior knowledge of the previous film released two decades ago. My wife saw the first “The Devil Wears Prada” a few times and really liked what it had to offer (especially the amazing and audacious fashion) so she was looking forward to this.

I, on the other hand, never saw that film nor wanted to. So I felt good about being the dutiful husband and seeing something I felt was not going to interest me one bit as I was surrounded by women sitting with their women friends and daughters. And I am here to say, much to my surprise, I liked it! Really! I guess I missed the boat on the first one but I am glad I am here for the second as we sailed the seas of fashion and false equivalencies.

Director David Frankel is back for the second time to helm the good-ship Prada once more. From what I hear, the original Devil Wears Prada was based on the novel by former Vogue intern Lauren Weisberger and because of this it focuses on the intern Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway) who was actually an abused “second-intern” to the chillingly-charged Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep) who was the editor in Chief of the fashion mag Runway. Andy was also being terrorized by the first assistant, Emily (Emily Blunt) and getting some sarcastic support from the magazine’s loyal photo editor, Nigel (Stanley Tucci).

We pick up in this current chapter twenty-years later and see that Runway is now mainly dealing with online fashion content in a world where paper magazines are becoming a rarity. Runway is being threatened with a salacious story about how they were a part of sweat shop retail (ala Kathy Lee Gifford’s Wal-Mart clothing nightmare scenario from years ago) and are in danger of being canceled. Wealthy owner of Runway, Irv Ravitz (Tibor Feldman), speaks to his son played by B.J. Novak of “The Office” fame and looks to do some major fire extinguishing by bringing in an accredited journalist to write content that extols the virtues and values of Runway.

Here is where we catch up with Andy Sachs who is now a successful and award winning, but very recently laid-off journalist looking for a direction. Owner Irv sees her giving a fiery speech online to her recently laid-off co-workers about the world’s need for true journalism and not just mindless “content”. The writers of Prada 2, Aline Brosh McKenna and Lauren Weisberger, seem to really nail the current reality of how bad things are everywhere in media. Terms like Parent Company, Merging, Downsizing, Realignment, and Content are used to great effect. Those of us that have been a part of a corporate take-over will feel the sting of all those terms.

The recently hired Andy (and I just want to say that Anne Hathaway is such a charmer here) is now back in the fashionable hallways of Runway. She finds it thrilling and strange as she meets people again twenty years later and tries to break the ice with Miranda’s new assistant Amari (Simone Ashley) who is an ice queen in her own right. Andy is hoping to come back in this new, important role as more of a peer to Miranda yet she and Tucci’s Nigel barely recognize her or give her the time of day. A little deflating to say the least.

Much like returning to your old school but your favorite teacher doesn’t even recognize you. Yet she soldiers on to the first assignment which is to accompany Miranda and Nigel as they grovel before one of their biggest advertisers, Dior, now led by ex-assistant Emily. Andy is still trying to charm Miranda but all she can say to Andy is, “All I need to do is bide my time until you fail. And you will.” Ouch.

Turns out Andy’s journalism talents come in handy as she painfully, patiently, and eventually gets into Emily’s good graces. Andy also lands a dream interview with the billionaire-philanthropist Sasha Barnes (Lucy Liu) who is coming out of an eventful divorce from her greedy tech-boss ex Benji (Justin Theroux) and is looking to give away her assets to female-forward causes she believes in. There is not much to the character of Sasha except a little deus ex machina towards the end of the movie which is a shame for a talent like Liu.

Miranda was about to be made into the Global Head of Content by owner Irv until his untimely demise which puts his son in charge and, you guessed it, looks to make radical cuts and changes to Runway including firing all those old timers who invested their lives in the company. The story then becomes a race as Runway goes from billionaire buyer to billionaire buyer while Andy, Miranda, and Nigel trying to navigate how to secure their jobs and save the company. This is all done with aplomb as we get some amazing and sweeping cinematography of New York (courtesy of cinematographer Florian Ballhaus), a fabulous fashion show in Milan, and some huge houses in what may be the Hamptons.

Oh and don’t forget about the fashion! I don’t know anything about the fashion but my wife had lots of opinions about what looks fabulous and what looked flakey. If you are into the fashion scene this movie will not disappoint (I’m more of a jeans and t-shirt kind of guy so it’s all lost on me). However, I heard many comments being spoken around me when a new bunch of costumes came on the screen. So many ladies in our theater were having a great time.

Meryl Streep’s Miranda played a less caustic version of herself than in the last Prada and we see how in twenty years the waves of change both in the world of fashion and the world of publishing has taken a toll. Her assistant is there to do her bidding but also to remind her of all the things she can no longer say due to the HR related structures built around her. She is still cold and demanding yet Streep plays her with a sense of loss and direction as she must now depressingly hang up her own coat and be gratingly more polite to those under her.

Prada 2 has a PG-13 rating mostly for two F-words (I remember when PG-13 was limited to one) and there is only one Sh— and two D—n but otherwise nothing else by way of language. There are many scenes of alcohol consumption but no one losing control. No instances of taking the Lord’s name in vain and no drug use.

The fashion can be a little form-fitting but nothing offensive. I found this movie to be surprisingly low on offensive material for a PG-13 rating. Also, be aware because of the industry that is focused on, there are many side and background characters with homosexual and crossdressing lifestyles.

There is one scene where Nigel is taking Andy to a huge closet at the Runway offices to get her prepped to go on assignment, and he is loading her with many clothes that he is personally picking out and says, “This stuff tells the world who you are.” The Bible has a very different view of who we are as believers in Jesus. The “clothing” God gives is much more powerful and eternal…

“I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness…” —Isaiah 61:10

“Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;” —Psalm 30:11

“Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility… —1 Peter 5:5

God’s garments, or “fashion”, is how He sees us through the forgiveness of Christ’s blood and salvation. It’s a fashion that goes deep into your soul, is seen by the world around you, and lasts for all eternity.

You may walk out of this film seeing many things that you don’t own or may never own… and that’s okay. Many do chase after what is fashionable today yet out of style tomorrow. However, we are called not to chase after what is fashionable for today because, as we all know, what is cutting edge today will be gone in due time… and what God thinks of us never goes out of style…. Just like my jeans and t-shirts.

• Wokeism: Moderate
• Vulgar/Crude language: Moderate
• Drugs/Alcohol: Moderate
• Nudity: Minor
• Violence: Minor
• Profane language: None
• Sex: None
• Occult: None

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.