Time: 119 Minutes
Age Rating: M – Offensive language
Cast:
Meryl Streep as Miranda Priestly
Anne Hathaway as Andrea “Andy” Sachs
Emily Blunt as Emily Charlton
Stanley Tucci as Nigel Kipling
Justin Theroux as Benji Barnes
Kenneth Branagh as Stuart Simmons
Director: David Frankel

I quite enjoyed The Devil Wears Prada. However, when I heard that a sequel was being made 20 years later, I was sceptical. Yes, the main cast of the first movie was returning with Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci. But it’s a comedy sequel, which usually aren’t nearly as good as the original, and with it also being a legacy sequel, it easily could’ve felt like a pandering cash grab. So it’s a genuine surprise The Devil Wears Prada 2 is actually good, and about on the same level as the original (from the last time I saw it at least).

The first act was a bit contrived as the movie needed to find a reason for these characters to get back together. Once that’s over with, however, I think it’s pretty smooth all the way to the end. This sequel feels suitably updated to today’s time and isn’t just content to play as if it’s still in the 2000s. It doesn’t rely on nostalgia as much as you would expect. I like the progression that the film gives the characters from when we last saw them in 2006, it’s funny and there are some heartwarming payoffs, even if the film as a whole probably isn’t as iconic as the original. What is most impressive is that they did find an actual reason for this movie to exist. It’s updated to today’s world and is a critique of today’s journalism, modern media deteriorating, human creativity being pushed aside for money, and people being laid off by corporations. The only clear weak link in this movie is a romantic subplot with Anne Hathaway’s Andy, which feels so tacked on and really didn’t add anything.

Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci slip back into their roles with ease. We also get to see the changes in their characters from the past 20 years, updated and given more depth. The newer cast on the whole is good, with Simone Ashley being the standout.

The Devil Wears Prada 2 is a surprisingly decent legacy sequel and about as good as the original. It’s funny and charming, and Streep, Hathaway, Blunt and Tucci are great as usual. Definitely worth checking out if you are a fan of the first movie.