By Andrew Evans aka the Pickleball Librarian
Is the sequel better than the original? Is it just as good?
What makes the original The Devil Wears Prada so good is to see the narcissism of Miranda Priestly. Seeing how cruel and impatient she was is an eye-opener into what the fashion world is like. It’s all about “me.” At the end of the movie, Andrea, who worked as her second office assistant, also made a career decision based on “me.”
In the sequel, the world has changed. Everything is being cut at every level. Businesses have eliminated so many departments that they don’t even look like what they used to.
The human element is disappearing. The essence of Runway magazine was about celebrating beauty and grace. Now bean counters in black suits are trying to replace what they do with artificial intelligence.
To combat changes in the Runway institution, “me” no longer works. It now takes a team to fight back against forces trying to convert the institution into a spreadsheet. Miranda grows and learns she can’t stop these changes alone. She initially makes a mistake by not trusting her team, but then she realizes how important they are and how much she needs their help.
My favorite part was at the end where the camera showed three important people who help keep Runway magazine going. The world has changed a lot in the past 20 years and these people are showing us that the way to make it and to be successful is to work as “we.”
If you are a fan of the original movie, I highly recommend the sequel. If you were looking for a rehash of Miranda‘s old ways, you will get some of that, but at the same time you will see her personal growth.
Humans sticking together is what it takes to evolve in this world where we are faced with the threat of artificial intelligence taking over our lives.
While I recommend this movie to fans of the fashion world and fans of actors involved, I highly recommend watching the first movie before seeing it’s sequel.
