Fun Devil Wears Prada Sequel Review

Introduction (Warning Contains Spoilers)

Twenty years after the original film became a cultural phenomenon, The Devil Wears Prada 2 finally returns audiences to the glamorous and intimidating world of Runway Magazine. Directed once again by David Frankel and written by Aline Brosh McKenna, the sequel reunites Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci while introducing new additions including Lucy Liu, Justin Theroux, and Kenneth Branagh.

The original The Devil Wears Prada succeeded because it balanced fashion satire with emotional honesty and sharp character writing. It explored ambition, identity, and workplace pressure through the glamorous but ruthless fashion industry. The film also became endlessly quotable and culturally influential, largely because of Meryl Streep’s unforgettable portrayal of Miranda Priestly.

For years, a sequel seemed unnecessary because the first film ended so perfectly. The characters all reached emotionally satisfying conclusions, and audiences accepted that story as complete. Reuniting such a successful cast also proved difficult over the years. However, changing media culture and continued audience interest eventually created space for a continuation that felt relevant rather than forced.

Thankfully, the sequel avoids becoming simple nostalgia. Instead, it asks what happens when ambitious young professionals become established industry figures themselves. The film shifts its focus from aspiration toward legacy, relevance, reinvention, and ageing within an industry obsessed with youth and image. That thematic change gives the sequel a more reflective tone than the original film.

Directorial Styles And Decisions

David Frankel keeps the same restrained directing style that made the original work so effectively. He avoids flashy visual excess and instead focuses heavily on performance, atmosphere, and timing. Humour still comes through uncomfortable silences, passive-aggressive dialogue, and subtle shifts in power. The film often succeeds simply because the returning cast understands these rhythms so naturally.

However, the sequel also feels slower and more emotionally reflective than its predecessor. The original film moved with sharp energy because Andy constantly reacted to a world she barely understood. Here, the characters already know the rules of the industry, which creates a calmer but less urgent atmosphere. Sometimes that maturity works beautifully, but occasionally it affects the pacing negatively.

Performances And Character Development

The performances easily remain the strongest aspect of the entire film. Meryl Streep once again dominates nearly every scene as Miranda Priestly, but her portrayal feels intentionally different this time. Miranda is still intimidating, intelligent, and emotionally controlled, yet she no longer carries the same overwhelming force she once did.

That change actually becomes one of the film’s smartest creative decisions. Workplace culture and public attitudes toward leadership have changed dramatically since 2006, and the sequel wisely acknowledges that reality. Miranda can no longer function exactly as she once did without the film feeling outdated or disconnected from modern audiences.

Instead of relying purely on fear and authority, Miranda now feels more measured and observant. She still controls rooms effortlessly, but there is also a sense that she understands her own vulnerability within a changing media landscape. Meryl Streep handles that transition brilliantly, adding humanity and self-awareness without weakening Miranda’s iconic presence.

The quieter scenes become some of the film’s strongest moments because of her performance. Miranda feels older, more reflective, and slightly uncertain about how long her influence can truly last. Those moments add emotional complexity whenever the screenplay begins losing momentum elsewhere.

Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt And Stanley Tucci

Anne Hathaway also returns with a more mature and composed interpretation of Andy Sachs. In the original film, Andy functioned as the audience’s entry point into this intimidating world. Here, she no longer reacts with confusion or insecurity. Instead, Andy feels grounded and experienced, which naturally changes her dynamic with Miranda. Their scenes together now feel layered by history rather than fear.

Emily Blunt remains consistently entertaining throughout the sequel. Emily still delivers the dry humour and cutting sarcasm audiences loved originally, but the character now feels more emotionally balanced and self-aware. Blunt avoids turning Emily into a parody of herself, allowing the character to mature naturally over twenty years.

Stanley Tucci once again brings warmth and emotional grounding to Nigel. His scenes often provide the film with sincerity and emotional continuity. Even when the story drifts narratively, Tucci keeps the emotional world believable and connected to the original film.

New Additions

The newer additions produce more uneven results. Lucy Liu especially feels underused despite fitting perfectly within the world of Runway Magazine. The film hints at a more significant rivalry or professional tension involving her character, but those ideas never fully develop. Liu brings authority and elegance to every scene, which makes her limited role even more frustrating.

Justin Theroux performs solidly within the film’s understated tone. He never dominates scenes, but his relaxed performance works comfortably within the sequel’s atmosphere. Kenneth Branagh also adds gravitas and sophistication, although his role feels more symbolic than emotionally essential.

Story And Themes

One of the sequel’s strongest aspects involves its themes surrounding legacy and reinvention. The characters are no longer fighting to enter the fashion industry. Instead, they are confronting the consequences of remaining inside it for decades. That shift gives the story a maturity the original film naturally lacked.

The sequel also explores how power changes over time. In the original film, Miranda represented almost untouchable authority and intimidating perfection. Here, she feels more vulnerable to changing workplace culture and evolving public expectations. That evolution prevents the character from becoming trapped in nostalgia.

The film also reflects modern conversations surrounding leadership and professional identity surprisingly well. Miranda no longer controls people entirely through fear because that style of leadership no longer fits modern audiences. Instead, influence now feels quieter, more uncertain, and occasionally more fragile.

Themes involving ageing and relevance also appear throughout the narrative. The fashion industry remains obsessed with youth and reinvention, which leaves several characters questioning their place within that world. Those moments become some of the film’s most emotionally interesting scenes because they acknowledge how much time has passed since the original story.

What Worked And What Didn’t

Where the sequel struggles most is within its screenplay and pacing. The story often feels surprisingly thin considering how many compelling ideas the film introduces. Themes involving legacy, ageing, media relevance, and workplace evolution all appear throughout the narrative, but many receive only surface-level exploration.

The pacing also becomes inconsistent, particularly during the middle act. Certain scenes linger too long without developing either the characters or the story meaningfully. The quieter, reflective tone could have worked extremely well if those moments revealed deeper emotional insight. Instead, several sequences simply feel stretched and repetitive.

Predictability also weakens parts of the narrative. Many emotional beats and character arcs resolve exactly as expected, which limits the sequel’s dramatic impact. The film occasionally feels too cautious because it depends heavily on audience affection for the original characters. It rarely takes major creative risks that could have pushed the story somewhere more surprising or emotionally challenging.

Still, the performances consistently elevate the weaker aspects of the screenplay. Whenever the film loses narrative momentum, the cast manages to restore emotional engagement through chemistry and performance alone. That strength ultimately prevents the sequel from becoming disappointing, even when the story itself struggles.

Final Verdict

Despite its flaws, The Devil Wears Prada 2 remains an entertaining and thoughtful continuation of a beloved story. It never recaptures the sharp brilliance, tight pacing, or cultural impact of the original film. However, it still offers enough intelligence, charm, and emotional maturity to justify revisiting these characters after twenty years.

Most importantly, the sequel understands these characters cannot remain trapped in the world of 2006 forever. The film allows them to evolve alongside changing cultural expectations, particularly Miranda Priestly herself. That evolution gives the story a maturity and self-awareness that makes it more interesting than simple fan service.

Ultimately, Meryl Streep carries the film through many of its weaker moments with remarkable ease. Her performance gives the sequel weight, credibility, and emotional depth whenever the screenplay struggles. While the story feels thinner and the pacing occasionally drags, the returning cast still makes this fashionable return worthwhile.