The Devil Wears Prada 2 (2026) - "Living For The Streep" Series

“Living for the STREEP” Series: We are here to celebrate the career of Mary Louise Streep….now known to most as Meryl Streep who has become widely known by critics, film-lovers, and audiences as likely our GREATEST LIVING ACTRESS.  Ever since her earlier breakout roles in the late 1970’s in films such as The Deer Hunter, and Kramer Vs. Kramer, she has carved out a filmography filled with brilliant performances in memorable films spanning a variety of genres including biopics, thrillers, family dramas, AND comedies.  During this time, she has also earned a STAGGERING TWENTY-ONE Oscar nominations including THREE wins.  Over the next several months, I will be revisiting one notable Streep film each month – each highlighting a different type of performance – culminating with the May 1 release of the long-awaited sequel featuring one of her more ICONIC roles as Miranda Priestly, The Devil Wears Prada 2.

The Wait is Finally Over.  It has been almost twenty years since the original The Devil Wears Prada hit theaters, featuring one of Streep's most celebrated performances which she also received an Oscar nomination for.  She's back as Miranda Priestly, once again leading the fashion magazine "Runway" though times have changed the magazine (like all print media) is now struggling....making matters worse, a new scandale has erupted online further putting Miranda's future (and the magazine's future) more at risk.  Fortunately whom else should return to the magazine but Andy Sacks (Anne Hathaway) to maybe save the day?  Infact several of the key players from that first film are ALSO back including Emily Blunt, Stanley Tucci, and Tracie Thoms....along with some new additions to the cast including Kenneth Branaugh, Justin Theroux, BJ Novak, and Luciy Liu!  Let's see if this highly anticipated legacy sequel lives up to the hype.....   

Host & Editor: Geoff Gershon
Producer: Marlene Gershon 

Transcript

“Living for the STREEP” Series: We are here to celebrate the career of Mary Louise Streep originally from Summit, New Jersey….now known to most as Meryl Streep who has become widely known by critics, film-lovers, and audiences as likely our GREATEST LIVING ACTRESS.  Ever since her earlier breakout roles in the late 1970’s in films such as Julia, The Deer Hunter, and Kramer Vs. Kramer, she has carved out a filmography filled with brilliant performances in memorable films spanning a variety of genres including biopics, thrillers, family dramas, AND comedies.  During this time, she has also earned a STAGGERING TWENTY-ONE Oscar nominations including THREE wins.  Over the next several months, I will be revisiting one notable Streep film each month – each highlighting a different type of performance – culminating with the May 1 release of the long-awaited sequel featuring one of her more ICONIC roles as Miranda Priestly, The Devil Wears Prada 2. (Music playing over)

THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA 2 – 1991             Directed by David Frankel

Starring Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Stanley Tucci, Emily Blunt, Kenneth Branaugh, Justin Theroux, Simone Ashley, Tracie Thoms, Tibor Feldman, BJ Novak, Patrick Brammell, Caleb Hearon, Helen J. Shen, Rachel Bloom, Larry Mitchell, and Lucy Liu

Genre:   Corporate Dramedy (Audio clip)

I guess it was a smart decision for me to rewatch the original within a few hours of seeing this because wow....this is pretty much a direct continuation of that story, which is strange because twenty years have passed. I mean I think back to some point back in 2006.....a LOT for me was different, but that's just me. 😆 The four main leads pretty much all look the same and SOUND the same too, well maybe except for Stanley Tucci whose voice has gotten a lot more gravely. I mean it probably also speaks to just how well The Tucc, Emily, Anne, and Streep have aged (if at all) though it initially feels like a strange vibe as they each feel like characters frozen in time. 

One of the best things about the story this time are the lengths this film goes towards showing how everything AROUND them has changed so dramatically though....in fact, those changes pretty much drive the plot. I mean print media was already beginning to die around 2006...big box chains where you would often see the biggest magazine sections - Borders, Tower - they were already starting to slowly dwindle in the latter half of the early '00's. ☹️ So to continue a story taking place at a fashion magazine two decades later was going to have to acknowledge that. The film opens with ONE major professional shock hitting our main protagonist Andy Sachs (Hathaway) until ANOTHER seismic event affecting her and the folks at "Runway" occurs roughly about forty minutes later....

So really for most of this film's almost two hour runtime, you truly do have Andy along with her fellow journalists and fashionistas very much on their backfeet. 🤔 It's a pretty bold choice for the highly anticipated "legacy sequel" to such a beloved movie and I applaud returning director David Frankel and writer Aline Brosh McKenna for going there - they also certainly have a very strong cast in place to sell that drama AND the comedy of course. Hathaway hasn't lost any of her comic chops, neither has Blunt - they're pretty much playing the SAME somewhat zany gals they played in the original! And they had me chuckling at points....

But therein lies the rub with this film as such a direct sequel to the first TDWP: what it gains in drama, it kind of sacrifices in comedy. 🫤  That's not to say that it's a drag to watch. The film is still just too bright to look at, so lush with its locations, filled with fun cameos, and just so breathlessly edited (sometimes to a fault - it does feel like some scenes are missing) that it never feels like a bummer. It's just not quite as breezy as the original...which to be fair ALMOST felt like a tropey '80's throwback even in 2006. 🤔 This feels less tropey and as to whether you'll enjoy that aspect of it, well mileage may vary. 

Most of the new additions to the cast don't leave much of a mark, maybe besides Branaugh along with Caleb Hearon and Helen Shen who each play two of the younger new assistants at the magazine. That's ok too as we're mainly here to see these now four Oscar-nominated leads (everyone else besides Meryl SINCE the first film) playing off of each other...and they still have fantastic chemistry. 

Meryl Oscar Clip (Meryl Streep has become such a consummate actress on-screen that many just ASSUME – fair or not – that she will delivering scenes designed to highlight her “acting” ability.  This would be the moment of her performance in this film which seems the most IDEAL to play as a clip on the Oscar’s): 

Just to be 100% honest here….the main reason I’m reviewing this was that it gave me a strong excuse to do a series on Meryl Streep and for that, I’m grateful.  It’s been so gratifying exploring her many facets of an actress…..I was also pushed to FINALLY see two performances of hers which I had not previously: A Cry in the Dark and previous recent episode Silkwood, both excellent films!  She undoubtedly is THE biggest draw here, once again playing Miranda Priestly in all of her icy glory. She's still got those biting quiet retorts and withering glances DOWN! And gratefully, her character is explored with more depth this time around and even allowed to show more emotion - she has some genuinely touching moments here not only shared with Hathaway and Tucci but also with a winning Kenneth Branaugh who plays her menschy husband.

IF I had to pinpoint ONE key acting moment of hers, it would actually be a quick, almost throw-away bit of physical comedy for Miranda which Streep nails PERFECTLY….it occurs maybe 25 minutes into the film when Andy and her assistant are observing into Miranda’s office…..MIRANDA hanging her OWN coat in her closet.  Of course Hathaway aids the comedy with her reaction but even moreso…..the completely OVER-THE-TOP way with which Streep is seen physically recovering from this action?  Yes it’s silly but it’s also unexpected, funny and SO STREEP. (Audio clip) 

Best Needledrop (best song cue or score used throughout runtime of film): 

This MIGHT come as a surprise to several watching the film but it WAS heavily publicized in the past few weeks that a certain pop star makes a very prominent cameo in this film, I would say about 2/3 in and that would be NYC’s own Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta.  I’m of course referring to one of my FAVORITE modern pop stars, Lady Gaga.  She actually provides two songs for this film’s soundtrack and they’re BOTH pretty strong – one is a stirring power ballad which plays over the closing credits, “Glamorous Life.” (Audio clip) 

Now back to her actual cameo within the film playing herself amidst some of our main characters….it’s fine, does the job, pretty much akin to Madonna in Die Another Day.  However shortly following that, we DO get to see her perform a new original song, diegetically playing at a major fashion event in Milan.  Was it necessary to the overall plot?  Not really sure but it’s still a banger of a dance-pop ditty and it’s of course ideal for a runway show – the song is the quite catchy, “Shape of a Woman.” (Audio clip) 

Wasted Talent (most under-utilized talent involved with film):

I was SO tempted to say Streep but let’s be clear, she’s good here and I think the overall disappointment many might have watching this is that her character just isn’t as funny nor as commanding this time around.  But like I said, this is a more serious story and her character is more vulnerable so that all pretty much tracks.  Nope if I had to pinpoint ONE player involved who possibly drops the ball, it might be the EDITOR, Andrew Marcus.  Now to be fair, this guy has done a lot of good stuff….some VERY tricky ones to pull off too like American Psycho and Hedwig and the Angry Inch.  Marcus was also apparently THE go-to-guy for several highly acclaimed costume dramas back in the early ‘90’s: Howard’s End, Much Ado About Nothing, and Remains of the Day…..and I would say that ONE thing all of those films had in common besides being excellent films is that they all flowed, they never felt as if scenes were missing.  Strangely this one just DOES…..we feel this with some of the more prominent supporting characters especially BJ Novak playing a David Ellison type and Patrick Brammal who winningly plays Hathaway’s love interest.  IF I had to guess, this felt more like studio pressure to keep this film to just under two hours which it is….I’ve made no secret of it in previous episodes that most films along these lines DO not need to be that long.  So I can appreciate the sentiment involved to tighten this movie, but it just didn’t feel seamless. 

Trailer Moment (scene or moment that best describes this movie):

From what I gather for a lot of die-hard fans of the original film, their FAVORITE sequence is the one where Andy is tasked by Miranda to nab a copy of the very last Harry Potter novel….BEFORE it has actually been published.  And what results is a fun montage, a mad dash to fine some one….ANY ONE who might have access to that manuscript. (Audio clip)  

Now this sequel doesn’t have nearly as much of that scrambling, that’s of course by design as Andy is now a more seasoned, experienced character.  But there is ONE particular standout sequence relatively early in the film – mostly via montage – where we get to see Andy pound the pavement and work the phones to try to land a much-desired interview for Runway with an elusive philanthropist/fashion icon played by Lucy Liu.  It’s fun watching her work her way through a chain of people who MIGHT know this person, including I believe a hairdresser and a dogwalker.  It’s also sequences like these which truly bring out the best in Hathaway as an actress, honing in on her boundless energy. 

MVP (person or people most responsible for the success of this film): 

And SPEAKING of Hathaway…..wow I’m going to zag here.  I guess I had always just assumed that Streep would carry this film and interestingly, she even has more screentime here – like I said, she’s very good.  But actually at the end of the day, this is more Hathaway’s movie – she a more seasoned actress vs ’06 and it truly shows.  Andy carries significantly more weight now as as a character and we DO see her not only go through the full gamut of emotions but also work as an effective fulcrum for the remaining characters.  It’s a genuinely impressive performance – is it up there with what I consider her BEST work in previous episode Rachel Getting Married?  No regardless, for delivering a full gamut comedic/dramatic performance, Anne Hathaway is the MVP. (Audio clip) 

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Bottom line....even though I wasn't blown away (and the same goes for the original which I liked but did not love), I enjoyed spending another couple of hours with these characters.  Oh and I don't pretend to know the first thing about fashion but most of the outfits looked pretty good too. ;)

And that ends another THAT’S ALL review!