Devil Wears Prada 2: A good sequel

Devil Wears Prada is based on a novel of the same name. It is about a former editor-in-chief at Vogue and her experience as an assistant to that editor. The novel came out in 2003 with the film following in 2006. Originally the movie was quite good, though I never really watched it until much later on. I also went to the musical at some point. I don’t normally like musicals. Before that I had seen clips and knew bits about the movie and novel, but never watched it until a couple of years ago. It turns up on a streaming service. You watch it. Long story short, I liked it. Not my favourite movie, but I like it. Small budget movie with a great fun feel-good vibe.

It was a success, which is why after 20 years a sequel was made. All the familiar characters return and the chemistry still exists. Is it better than the original? No, but I think that’s the wrong question. Is it a good sequel? Yes. The correct question is: was it worth making? I think so. It tells an important story and shows us a slice of the media landscape, the death of print media, of journalism. There’s social commentary too about how many people don’t understand the value of creativity, and a recurring theme of men who are completely clueless. Two female leads is honestly great to see. Both movies deal with important topics but neither makes the point explicit, it just exists within the story. Subtle, but it’s there, and the film is quite good for it. The second one does nudge things a bit more than the first. I’ll try to keep things vague and won’t spoil the movie.

This movie leaves open the possibility of a third film, but also provides a fitting ending to the arc started in the first movie. You don’t need to have seen that one to understand this one. I do think this movie has less charm than the original, but it deals with a different topic and it’s much harder to recapture that same energy. It does have its own charm though, with the role of women and how society views them being an important thread throughout. Fashion is almost just the background here, it’s really about what the story is saying beyond the clothes.

The first one was about a woman getting into a job and changing. She used it as a stepping stone but kept her morals. The second movie deals with her being forced back to the magazine that helped start her career, after being away for so long. Her old boss is burnt out, worn down and untrusting. Her dream job has become something hanging over her head. She’s playing the game and has forgotten why she’s playing the game. She’s trying to survive. It’s a healthy mix of nostalgic throwbacks to the first movie, but instead of bringing everybody back together, this feels more like seeing two people in their element, both respecting each other. It could have been filled with cameos and easter eggs but it decides to do more than that. Everyone feels way more grown up, less flashy, more grounded. Which is strange considering how similar the setup is to the first film.

I think this is where the lack of charm comes in. It’s a more serious subject, heavy with undertones, the role of women in society, the decline of print media, how wealthy men can be blind to the value of creativity and passion. It reminded me a little of how Barbie worked as a quietly feminist film. Maybe I should rewatch that one too.

I do like this movie. I’m not a fan of the idea of a third film. I can only see two or three stories it could tell. One being retiring one of the main characters with another stepping into her role, another being one character going freelance, or a third following one of the supporting characters doing something significant. The problem with both movies is that they are just good. Fine. My biggest gripe these days is sequels, sequels, and fewer new stories. I’m not convinced we need a third, especially given it took 20 years for this one to be made. I’ve had my fill and I’m not sure there’s another story here worth telling. On balance, Devil Wears Prada 2 is good and worth watching.