POPCORN REVIEWSS

Written by Lauren Weisberger and Aline Brosh McKenna, The Devil Wears Prada 2 kicks off exactly two decades after the events of the first film, wherein a chain of events lead to the much awaited reunion between Miranda Priestly and Andy Sachs. The latter having lost her job is hired by the Runway magazine, in a bid to change a public perception following a mistake by the former who chose to run a glowing profile of a sweatshop fashion brand. And therein lies the snappy bout of comedy when the two protagonists meet for the first time after ages. In a scene, Miranda hilariously has forgotten traces of Andy who was previously her first assistant, in her first official job in the fashion industry. And therein lies Andy’s internal conflict too – she wishes to do some real journalism while using Runway as her last resort.

The backdrop plays an important role with regards to the characters here. The supposed transition in play (from print to digital media) is relatable today – and its after-effects that you see with respect to the protagonists in play. While Andy seeks for depth in her articles, she is majorly judged by the declining number of views that her articles generate. Likewise, Miranda doesn’t hold the same clout in her company, often being overpowered by her CEO during the hiring process.

Even the third wheel in this dynamic Emily (Emily Blunt) holds a position of power as a power broker in the fashion industry – often controlling the advertising budgets of Runway magazine. In other words, she is both an ally and a foe of Miranda, bitter with the idea of having to leave Runway because of her, but also serving a soft corner for the magazine by bailing the magazine out of a whole. In a sharp contrast, Miranda’s loyalist and the darling of Andy, Nigel (Stanley Tucci) is happy playing a perfect foil to both of them – never demanding his dues with Miranda, and quietly sneaking an attire for Andy, thereby continuing to act as a bridge between them.

The writing here mostly follows the template of the first film that essentially features a thorny relationship between the two protagonists transitioning into a space of comfort. The catalyst here remains a very specific ‘exclusive’ interview that seemingly shifts their dynamic here for the better. But the writing doesn’t lose sight of the core theme of uncertainty that has plagued so many industries in the modern day world. With the advent of AI and a shift in the dynamics of the private sectors (even with a change in the management), so many jobs are lost, and there is a strand of uncertainty everywhere. And this specific sentiment is explored through a series of events that would go onto test the character of the folks involved. Add to that, the distinction between the work culture of the ‘millenials’ and the ‘Gen-Zs’ that adds subtle bouts of humour along the way! You notice how the latter are more upfront and daring, as showcased on more than a couple of instances – something that makes Andy exclaim on how the current generation is ‘dangerous’ 😂.

In many ways, the worst affected is Andy whose professional life stares as a bout of uncertainty, much like her shaky love-life – this time featuring a builder Peter (Patrick Brammal). In a scene, you see Peter reminding Andy on how the entire situation is similar to his job of acquiring buildings, and ‘restructuring’ them based on the current needs – much to the dismay of Andy. Hence in many ways, the drama here explores the psyche of the characters while maintaining the tone of the drama to be light and frothy with frequent bouts of humour.

Like the checkbox of the first film being shifting the third act to Paris, the checkbox here remains of shifting the third act to Milan. And this change in setting holds a metaphor of relevance – firstly with respect to the twisted dynamics between the characters, along with a specific idea of resolution, just like in the first film. But on a granular level, the arcs remain exactly mirror opposites of the first film – starting with a conflicted twist before the two protagonists join hands to come up with a solution. But in many ways, this remained a case of finding the middle-ground that would benefit all parties, even whilst going out of the way to mend relationships that were on the tipping point of turning sour. This leaves you with an identical warm and fuzzy feeling from the first film, something that did put a wide smile on my face. There is hope after all if you have the right folks around you!