The Devil Wears Prada Review
by Homer Yen (homer_yen AT yahoo DOT com)July 23rd, 2006
The Devil Looks Good in "Prada"
by Homer Yen
(c) 2006
This summer, I'm hooked on watching superheroes
save lives. I'm hooked on watching cars race deliriously fast and furious. I'm hooked on
pirates. And oddly, I am hooked on watching a self-absorbed fashion editor be about as mean as
mean can be.
"The Devil Wears Prada" is a whimsical story
(based on Lauren Weisberger's novel) about an idealistic journalism grad named Andy (Anne
Hathaway) that comes to the big city in search of
her dream job as an editor. Whatever she's
hoping to find, it certainly doesn't come to her
in the form of Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep),
the powerful and punishing editor of Runway
magazine. Her approval can launch careers. Her disapproval can just as easily end them.
Sometimes, just being around Miranda is like the
sound of scratching nails against the chalkboard.
This experience, and Miranda, just gets inside
of you in a viral sort of way. At least, that's
what Emily (Emily Blunt), Miranda's first
assistant, must feel like. Emily can't handle
the demands all by herself, and Andy is hired on
as the 2nd assistant.
On this note, Hathaway is a safe choice. If
you've seen the "Princess Diaries" films, you
would think that there's a slight lack of
originality here. It's as if Hathaway finished shooting that film and just crossed the street to
this studio already in the same mindset. When
she arrives for her interview, she is a fashion disaster. Better selections could be found at Wal-Mart. She starts out with the in-need-of-some-styling hairdo, clothes that
perhaps a bum wouldn't wear, and a few supportive friends. Then, great fortune is bestowed upon
our doe-eyed heroine and she transforms. Her environment and her options change. Will she
remain loyal to herself and shun the glamour or
will she succumb to the allure of Hermes scarves
and Jimmy Choo shoes?
Much of the fun is the look we get into the world
of fashion publishing. It may look glamorous on
the outside. Valentino makes a cameo appearance
as does model Giselle Bundchen. But inside, it
is nonstop feuding and jockeying for power. The up-close look at the inner workings of the
industry provides a little bit of spice to this otherwise bland and formulaic film. The pinnacle
of Miranda's year is Spring Fashion Week in
Paris. The cameras capture the sexy allure of
the City of Lights. But as one of Miranda's
employees puts it, one day they'll go to Paris to actually go to Paris. This wise observation is uttered by Nigel (Stanley Tucci), the magazine's fashion director, who laments that they become
slaves to a 24-hour-a-day business.
The real joy of the film is Meryl Streep who puts
so much delicious meanness into her role that
it's sure to garner an Oscar nomination (and at
least a Golden Globe win for Best Actress in a Comedy). It's a role to relish. She brings
something memorable to the landscape of summer
film characters.
"The Devil Wears Prada" has that
I've-seen-it-before feel. But, it pops with
energy and maintains a delightful tone. I guess "Prada" is always in fashion.
Grade: B
S: 1 out of 3
L: 0 out of 3
V: 0 out of 3
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Originally posted in the rec.arts.movies.reviews newsgroup. Copyright belongs to original author unless otherwise stated. We take no responsibilities nor do we endorse the contents of this review.
