The Devil Wears Prada
(DVD Review)
By MovieCritic on 05-02-2008
The Devil Wears Prada is a visual treat, full of appealing shots in the title character's spare, modern office; women in designer clothes; and the streets, clubs, and galleries of New York City and Paris. Artisans will probably most appreciate the sometimes cartoon-ish (in a good way) humor, though all types can enjoy this movie providing they don't take it too seriously.
Andy (Anne Hathaway) is a young aspiring journalist. She applies for a junior assistant job at Runway, a fashion magazine, after being rejected by other publications. She lands the job working for Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep), the editor-in-chief and a power figure with a reputation for running her staff ragged with extraordinary demands like getting a copy of an unpublished Harry Potter manuscript and convincing a private plane company to fly her out of Florida when the commercial flights are grounded for a hurricane.
After enduring mockery from Emily (Emily Blunt), the senior assistant, and the other "Runway girls" and contempt from Miranda, Andy enlists the help of art director Nigel (Stanley Tucci) to make herself over as an appropriately fashionable protégée. Andy's morals gradually slip as she gets caught up in her newfound success: she betrays her boyfriend, neglects her friends, and edges out her coworker for a trip to Paris in order to curry favor with Miranda. Streep is fantastic in her role as Miranda – she provides most of the best comedy in the film through her facial expressions alone. Hathaway flounders. Her problem seems rooted in the way the character is written; not enough information surfaces about Andy's motivations. When she joins Runway, she seems oblivious to Miranda's celebrity and the fashion world in general; she becomes hell bent on proving herself in this arena for no apparent reason, sticking with the job even after a well-known writer starts encouraging her journalistic efforts. This makes the resolution – Andy's inevitable return to her integrity – ring hollow.
Verdict: Plot weaknesses diminish the experience, but the film is worth a DVD viewing, especially for Meryl Streep fans.
 |
 |
 |
|
Posted by bsaunders on May 6, 2008
I never read the book - Lesley, I agree with your reason for Andy's staying with the job. Is that made clearer in the book (interior monologue, maybe?) |
 |
 |
Posted by Nette_7 on May 10, 2008
Thanks Lesley, that did clear things up some. I think, if I remember correctly, this was mentioned in the movie, in a small part somewhere. Anyhow, I agree that Meryl Streep's inspired performance was the highlight of the show, although Anne Hathaway wasn't bad either. I could identify with Andy's feeling that she was slowly slipping away from everything and everyone she'd known and held dear before the Runway job; and liked the theme of Andy's journey back to who she really was after the lure of the fashion world. |
Hey, that's one of my favorite movies! It's one of my favorite movies, 'cause it's one of my favorite books. The reason Andy stays in the job is so she can instantly get a job at any magazine of her choice after her 1-year internship with *Runway* is done. You know, I think some the actresses-the ones doing the modeling-in that movie were kind of against the movie. It reveals some things about the fashion world that those model and fashion people might not want the rest of the world to know.