In defense of: the Devil Wears Prada 2

In defense of the Devil Wears Prada 2

(Read this with the context that this author has only seen clips of the first movie, isn't in the mood to talk about how mentally damaging luxury and modern capitalism can be, and is writing furiously at midnight to the rhythm of the Devil’s Trill Sonata by Tartini)

Yet another soulless sequel some say. Yet another corporate cashgrab some say. Yet another punchless product some say. While these are to some level true, they do a tremendous disservice to the Devil Wears Prada 2, which I think is one of the finest films this year.

I have yet to see a film this year that so thoroughly captures the beauty of human imperfection. Humans are not black or white - they are colourful. Humans have deep flaws and deep strengths that co-exist. Humans serve themselves and other people. Humans have passions and feelings, and perhaps most important, they communicate them! Even the most devilish, duplicitous and robotic humans in the movie, are moved not by clicks, lifeless consultants or AI slop, but by their own convictions and those of our main protagonists. The feel good ending is earned through hard struggle and faith in the good of humanity.

The aesthetics and action are tailor-made to support this. Each article of clothing is symbolic. The glowed-up intern wears her dresses with confidence, the right-hand wears suits as sharp as his tongue, the has-been boss wears old curtains that please her underlings but do nothing against her enemies, the bland-but-earnest boyfriend wears a blue collared Tee, and the new CEO really does not give a damn. These pretty ‘mannequins’ are enlivened by a tightly-paced plot that dances across the absolute state of modern journalism, feminism, money and power.

We live in yet another big season of war in humanity’s history. Money is going away from arts and sciences that enliven the soul and into those that kill it. If the world is making you doubt the goodness of humanity, go see this film. It might make you feel that ‘humans aren’t thaaat bad’.