The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
Directed by David Frankel
A young woman from the Midwest gets more than she bargained for when she moves to New York to become a writer and ends up as the assistant to the tyrannical, larger-than-life editor-in-chief of a major fashion magazine.
10 connections found
View:
10 films that influenced The Devil Wears Prada
What critics say influenced The Devil Wears Prada
It’s a great role for Hathaway, reminiscent of memorable breakouts like Julia Roberts in “Pretty Woman” and Melanie Griffith in “Working Girl.”
“The Devil Wears Prada” might not be much more that a clever riff on “All About Eve,” but thanks to Streep it’s sharp and witty enough to play on a double bill with that 1950 classic and not completely fold in its presence; it’s probably the best Hollywood working-girl comedy since, well, Mike Nichols’ “Working Girl” (1988).
Yet without a single tolerable protagonist or amusingly malicious one-liner – as well as a hypocritical desire to celebrate the hideous Miranda while supposedly condemning her – The Devil Wears Prada primarily makes one pine for any comparable ‘50s working-girl comedy (or, for that matter, 1988’s Working Girl ).
Think of Sigourney Weaver's scheming Katherine Parker in Working Girl: She's such a fiend that no matter what you think of Melanie Griffith's Tess, you root for her.
A blond graduate of Brown in the book, young go-getter Andrea Sachs is now a lanky brunette from Northwestern when luck (mostly good) shoves her into the feng shui/white-on-white corner office of Runway editor Miranda Priestly, here silver-haired and played by Meryl Streep as a cross between Cruella de Vil and the whipcracking sadist essayed by Sigourney Weaver in Working Girl .
Two decades ago we had the story of Working Girl , in which an overworked, underappreciated underling got the respect she deserved as she took down a scheming, nasty boss.
It’s a great role for Hathaway, reminiscent of memorable breakouts like Julia Roberts in “Pretty Woman” and Melanie Griffith in “Working Girl.”
Yet, more Pretty Woman than Working Girl , The Devil Wears Prada really lives to give its angel a high-class makeover.
Stanley Tucci takes on the role, which normally belongs to Hector Elizondo (“Pretty Woman,” The Princess Diaries”), as Andy’s mentor and muse and makes it his own here.
I was reminded of a scene in “Swimming with Sharks” – also an assistant’s tale about the world’s worst boss – in which Kevin Spacey’s blockbuster producer confesses what sent him down such an inhumane path.
This isn’t Kevin Spacey’s screaming lunatic producer in Swimming with Sharks ; this is about the threatening quiet and the sacrifices Miranda makes to be lonely at the top.
Fashion mavens, and those intrigued by some interesting plot similarities between “Funny Face” and “The Devil Wears Prada,” may enjoy “Fashion Photographers Exposed,” in which 21st century shutterbugs honor the work of Richard Avedon, as well as “The Fashion Designer and his Muse,” a leftover from the last disc and a look at the close creative relationship between Audrey Hepburn and her good friend and lifelong personal fashion designer, Hubert de Givenchy.
That the character works at all is mostly due to Anne Hathaway, who is not only naturally likable, but comes to have a radiance comparable to Audrey Hepburn in Stanley Donen's 1957 musical Funny Face in the latter portions of the film.
Advertisement
“The Devil Wears Prada” might not be much more that a clever riff on “All About Eve,” but thanks to Streep it’s sharp and witty enough to play on a double bill with that 1950 classic and not completely fold in its presence; it’s probably the best Hollywood working-girl comedy since, well, Mike Nichols’ “Working Girl” (1988).
The screenwriters behind “The Devil Wears Prada” should have to watch “Broadcast News” – or perhaps “Election” – before putting another pen to paper.
Plus, if I remember correctly, Tucci performed some terrific dance routines in Shall We Dance?
From the moment she hovers onto the screen — like, oh, the Wicked Witch in Snow White, pure seduction and pure evil all wrapped up in a fabulous wardrobe — Streep makes Miranda instantly one of the classic, iconic Hollywood villains.
Advertisement
Lauren Weisberger's 2003 roman a clef makes Bridget Jones's Diary look like serious literature.
The others in her circle aren't much better, coming across as half-hearted imitations of the eccentrics in the title character's sphere in Bridget Jones's Diary.
Frankel has directed numerous episodes of "Sex and the City," and he also made the sweetly entertaining 1995 comedy "Miami Rhapsody."