The Devil Wears Prada, 2006

From Cheesy chic-flicks to heart breaking romances- how many rom-coms would the movie industry create before each motion picture became an exact replica already been done? So how original could “The Devil Wears Prada” be? And the verdict? It’s a generic film with little imagination. The story is based on the bestselling book and follows the not at all chic life of wannabe journalist Andy Sachs, played by Anne Hathaway. She stumbles into the hectic world of high fashion working as the second assistant for the Cruella Deville of Runway magazine. Her character transforms into a highly trendy workaholic leaving her friends and boyfriend Nate behind after she sells her soul to the devil. Nonetheless, at the end Andy manages to return back to her principles. I admit that it was a feel good movie, yet that wasn’t the reason it was watchable. Nor was (David Frankel) the director’s poor ability to fashion an innovative and fresh film. Meryl Streep’s performance of the devil transforms it from an uninspired script to an Oscar- winning performance. Playing the Queen B of fashion Streep resists the temptation of mimicking Cruella Deville and still manages to portray a sophisticated yet pitiless boss from hell. I have to say- the devil won me over. Anne Hathaway’s performance could never compare to Streep’s. You could say she plays the same role as in her past film “The Princess Diaries”. However two performances especially surprised me: Stanley Tucci who plays Nigel; and Emily Blunt as the second assistant Emily. They turn their roles from weak to innovative that would have been insipid with less accomplished actors. They bring more to their characters and the acting alone makes the movie worth watching. Don’t watch it for the plot, watch it for the acting. Don’t expect a movie that simply revolves around fashion, it is about goals, power and conflict in order to obtain a job that “a million girls would kill for”; a job that takes wits, ruthlessness and ego to achieve. The movie raises the obvious question- does fashion matter? During the film, Miranda Priestly- the boss that with a tough exterior- has a setback that is witnessed by Andy. That short moment thoroughly humanizes the character giving authenticity to the role and perfectly demonstrating the distressing pain that Miranda Priestly is going through, evoking sympathy from the viewer. This portrays Meryl Streep’s unique ability to adapt to any different character and turn it into an utterly believable performance. One actress is a deserved Oscar winner and I am of course referring to Streep’s leading performance. This movie is a familiar New York fairytale with a wicked witch and a frog that becomes a princess in time for her happily ever after. I guess men would find this film as boring as last year’s Jimmy Choos. However, truly great for a girl’s night out just like similar films such as “Confessions of a shopaholic” or “The September Issue” all mind-numbing films. A minor waste of time some may say! The plot is easy to follow even for a baby, and relatively believable. If you have ever worked in a place like Runway, then you can relate to the tedious job Andy does just to live her dream of becoming a journalist. The ending makes up for the rest of the film in some ways. Still, don’t expect a riveting plot with twists at the end of every scene; if you are then I would recommend a more complex film. “The Devil Wears Prada” is typical, powerful and repetitive all at once. Another Cinderella story set in New York. The film is as superficial as half the models in it and whether you are a high fashion addict or simply shopping in charity stores, the film lets you have a fun time. If you don’t read to deeply into the true meaning of the film, then it is as light as half the girls in the fashion industry. In all likelihood, it won’t be the chic Prada bag sported by Andy Sachs or the killer look on Miranda Priestly’s face that will acquire an audience; it will be the sequined truth behind the world of high fashion.

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