In The Devil Wears Prada (2006), Andy Sachs, played by Anne Hathaway, complained to Runway Magazine Fashion Guru Nigel Kipling, played by Stanley Tucci, that Editor-in-Chief Miranda Priestly, played by Meryl Streep, didn’t give her flowers for her effort. Nigel said that Andy is not trying, but “whining”. She didn’t care about the fashion industry, even had distain for it.
Nigel said, “And you want to know why she (Miranda) doesn’t kiss on the forehead and give you a gold star on your homework at the end of the day. Wake up, sweetheart.”
20 years later in Director David Frankel’s The Devil Wears Prada 2, the older, wiser, journalist Andy (Anne Hathaway) returns to Runway at the request of Elias Clark CEO Irv Ravitz, played by Tibor Feldman, and his second in command son Jay, played by B.J. Novak. Miranda (Meryl Streep) is about to be announced as the Global Digital Editor of Runway owner Elias Clark. Print media publishing of 2026, is not what it was in 2006. However, Miranda and Runaway’s vendor runs a sweatshop manufacture company that goes viral on Social Media. Miranda becomes the target of Internet memes.
Andy, journalist for the New York Vanguard Newspaper, accepts the prestigious investigative journalism award just after being fired by her Newspaper via text. Aline Brosh McKenna’s screenplay poignantly realizes the growing demise of print media and journalism. Andy’s f-bomb alliterated acceptance speech also goes viral on Social Media.
Andy’s friend and former New York Vanguard co-worker Talia, played by Rachel Bloom, asks Andy to write a biography expose on Miranda, knowing that she’s returning to Runway for damage control. Although Miranda as her Sensei pushed Andy so that she could pull out her own greatness within, she never felt acknowledged or appreciated by Miranda. Perhaps, she even wanted her love.
When Andy arrives at Runaway, Nigel said, “Look what TJ Maxx dragged in!” Miranda doesn’t recognize Andy. Nigel reminds, “She was one of the Emilys (first assistant).” Emily Blunt also reprises as Emily Charlton. That seemed an oddly constructed narrative in Ailine Brosh McKenna’s script or was that Miranda’s dementia? After 20 years and many assistants, including current Amari, played by Simone Ashley, maybe Miranda just forgot? Emily left long ago, becoming the powerful fashion vendor. She has 2 children and an ex-husband.
At times, Screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna tries to clumsily reinvent Laura Weisberger’s The Devil Wears Prada narrative in varying effect. Instead of Andy getting the unpublished Harry Potter book, she must land the “white whale” interview with reclusive billionaire Sasha Barnes, played by strong smart Lucy Liu. Andy gets a new possible love interest in contractor Peter, played by charming Patrick Barnmall, which formulaically checks off the romantic box. Strangely, beautiful and smart Emily Blunt’s Emily occurs as too much villain, in her grudge against Miranda. She used her billionaire boyfriend Benj Barnes, played by Justin Theroux in comically creepy vibe, to buy out Runway for her to run. Yes, Benji is Sasha’s ex.
Still, amidst the convoluted conspiracy and high fashion flourishes, The Devil Wears Prada 2 finds its path with Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep, and Stanley Tucci as Andy, Miranda, and Nigel. The movie eloquently resonates in their authentic performances.
Meryl Streep is Total Badass swag and poignant humanity, which is the heart of The Devil Wears Prada 2. In The Devil Wears Prada, her Miranda said, “No one can do what I do?” In the climatic narrative arc of The Devil Wears Prada 2, Anne Hathaway’s Andy quietly asks, “What about Nigel?” After Miranda sold out Nigel in The Devil Wears Prada, Andy asks him why he stayed with Miranda, continued to walk “a step behind” her. He said, “She needs me.”
Miranda’s eyes water and widen. She gets what she had done to her dearest friend and advisor over the years. She tells Nigel, “In a world where everyone shouts and complains and whines and screws up and tries to cover up… there’s you. There’s always been you.” Nigel cried. I cried, too. Nigel finally heard the love and respect he needed to hear, and knew was there.
That’s the eloquently powerful narrative of The Devil Wears Prada 2. Life is about the sacrifices and cost we endure to become the best that we can be. We all want to be acknowledged by those we love and respect on that journey. That’s just our human design.
In the sublime narrative arc reminiscent of the final limo ride in The Devil Wears Prada, Meryl’s Miranda confides in Anne’s Andy, “You should write it. And you should keep all the juicy bits in. How impatient I am and demanding and imperious. And, you know… how much of my children’s lives I’ve missed. Just put it all in. Because people should know. They should know there’s a cost. But boy, I love working. I really do. Don’t you?” That’s ironic poignancy of the powerful woman in today’s global business.
Anne Hathaway’s equally sublime in her quiet. She gets Miranda, what it’s like to be her. Miranda gets her. She approves of Andy. Theirs is like the timeless story of the daughter, who wants so badly to have her mother’s love, when she had it all along. Anne Hathaway is vulnerable and whimsically wise in Andy’s journey in “I’m good enough.” One that I know all too well.
Excited Andy handed Miranda her draft manuscript.
Miranda said, “Something else?”
Andy smiled, “Not right now.”
Miranda said, “Go.”
Miranda was proud as she smiled. She was always proud. Now, Andy knew that, too. That all makes The Devil Wears Prada 2 something very special, too.
