'The Devil Wears Prada 2' Is A Devilish Disappointment
A Fashion Movie with Bad Fashion? Gosh
The Devil Wears Prada is back, baby. I loved the original film, so I was excited to see how they would bring the 2000’s classic into the 2020s. Watching every trailer and collaboration in the lead-up to the release just built my hype endlessly until I found myself sitting in the cinema. Unfortunately, when the movie started, I felt a pit of disappointment building.
I don’t usually focus on a movie's colour grade, but in a film about fashion, the look is paramount to its aesthetic and effect. It felt devoid of all colour and life as it went for the low-contrast grade we see in so many big studio films these days. It removes the impact of all these high-fashion moments we are meant to be taking in by stripping them of their pop. It also just makes it feel so bland, which I feel encompasses so much of this film.
I found the soul behind a lot of the characters has been totally stripped back to an upsetting level. Whilst Miranda has some of her usual punchy moments, she doesn’t have her usual fight. She has her moments, but overall, she just doesn’t really have her bite anymore.
This critique doesn’t just lie with Miranda, though; Anne Hathaway’s performance as Andy also lacks the depth the original film had tenfold. It felt as if she was performing a caricature at times, her facial expressions comically overdone in even the smallest, most intimate moments. It led to the film feeling frustrating of the characters that made the original so beloved, even though they were right there.
Another point of contention is the fact that this film seems to lack any inclination toward fashion sense. There’s a scene between Andy and Nigel (Stanley Tucci) discussing a mysterious gown, crowning it just too stunning to wear to a weekend away in the Hampdens. When we see the dress, however, it is merely a piece of untailored fabric with a variety of coloured squares. I don’t claim to have a huge eye for fashion, but I can clearly see it is an atrocious outfit.
There are moments similar to this splattered throughout the entire film that leave me questioning if this film is even worthy of The Devil Wears Prada name. It lacks so much of the charm and uniqueness of the original; it pains me to even consider it as a continuation.
I can’t be totally sad, though, as there are a few shining lights in this film that save it from being totally horrendous. Stanley Tucci is a key highlight for me. He is so effortlessly funny, bringing laughs to scenes that would otherwise be a complete bore. He also has a lovely arc throughout the film, finally getting to accept he’s worth more than playing second fiddle to Miranda. It’s a shame, really, that this truly heartwarming story is muddied amongst so many other shallow and boring plotlines.
Overall, I was sad that I came out of The Devil Wears Prada 2 feeling a pit of disappointment in my stomach. It was something I really wanted to love, though a lack of bite and interesting story left it a mere shell of its predecessor. I hope some of you can love this film in a way I wasn’t able to; maybe I was too harsh, and it will really stick with some people.