Prada. Gucci. CHANEL. Looks are everything at New York City’s premier fashion magazine, Runway. Based on the best-selling novel by Lauren Weisberger, “The Devil Wears Prada” tells the tale of recent college graduate Andy Sach’s (Anne Hathaway) stint working as the junior assistant for Runway’s editor in chief; enter ice queen Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep).
Upon arriving to the offices of Runway, Andy quickly realizes she does not fit in. In a place where women wear clothing no larger than a size two and look like models from the pages of Vogue, Andy’s J. Crew inspired wardrobe screams “makeover.” As Andy waits to speak with Miranda, one of the employees asks if there was “a before-and-after piece I don’t know about.”
But her lack of fashion sense does not hold her back. Andy confidently tells Miranda that she is a hard worker and is the right person for the job, even though she admits she does not read Runway magazine and does not have an interest in fashion. To Andy’s surprise, she is hired by Miranda, who decided to “take a chance on the smart, fat girl.” After just the first day at Runway, Andy wishes she never took the job. Miranda’s constant demands and belittling of Andy’s slim size six figure resonate with her long after she has left the office.
What this film does best is create witty and crisp dialogue between characters as a result of terrific casting. The viewers are at times appalled by Miranda’s unforgiving and cruel behavior but they also laugh at her snide remarks. Meryl Streep was made to play to role of Miranda, from the way to she gives Andy blank, icy stares, to her amazing figure and confident air wearing the latest fashions and the way she gently says, “that’s all,” after firing off a list of almost impossible tasks, such as getting a copy of the still unreleased seventh Harry Potter book.
Miranda can be the devil but she also teaches Andy some valuable lessons about the industry. According to Miranda, you must sacrifice things in order to be respected and get ahead. Andy watches in awe as Miranda interacts with each of her clients and acquaintants, treating them as if they were her best friends, even though she often forgets their names and has one of her assistants whisper them in her ear.
Andy’s character is appropriately played by Anne Hathaway, who also needed a makeover in “The Princess Diaries” in order to fit in. Hathaway exudes the down-to-earth charm Andy’s character posseses but also fits perfectly into the CHANEL and Gucci frocks she later slinks into to make an impression at Runway. She is charming to watch on screen and the audience easily sympathizes with her as her stint at Runway becomes more and more time consuming.
Although “The Devil Wears Prada” follows a somewhat predictable storyline, it’s nonetheless an entertaining and smart storyline that viewers will appreciate. The characters are colorful and engaging, as is the dialogue. The many different outfits Andy gets to wear will make fashion fans’ mouths water. “The Devil Wears Prada” provides a humorous and sometimes shocking look at New York City’s status as fashion mecca and one girl’s struggle to make it through working for the boss from hell.
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