The Devil Wears Prada 2006
There seem to be a lot of movies about people who work at fashion magazines in New York. But unlike most of them where a young upstart rises to the top (13 Going on 30), this movie is more realistic. It centers around Anne Hathaway’s character who has graduated from Northwestern in journalism and who takes a job as an administrative assistant for a notorious fashion magazine editor played with understated perfection by Meryl Streep. Hathaway didn’t really choose fashion, it was just a job she applied for and got. Most of the movie is then about the relationship between the two, with the impossible demands of the boss and the hopeless screwups and eventual competency of the underling. Streep is extremely judgemental, exacting, cold, and dictatorial, but it isn’t a completely unrealistic portrayal. Hathaway transforms herself from ugly duckling (yeah, right) to glamorous career woman, but certainly doesn’t turn the fashion industry upside down.
Both of the female leads are very good. Streep could have overplayed her part, but she keeps it subtle and far more realistic. When it is called for, she can play an emotional scene like nobody’s business. Hathaway is very likable in her role and we can relate to her as we see her personal life sacrificed for an incredibly demanding job. Stanley Tucci is excellent as the “gay friend” who in this case happens to be second in command at the magazine and is instrumental in Hathaway’s transformed appearance. The senior assistant is good, but is stuck with a thin role as the snotty fashionista against Hathaway’s clumsy sweetheart. The boyfriend doesn’t seem like a good match and a happy but unconvincing ending seems tacked on.
There are Cinderella aspects to this movie, but Streep brings depth to the evil stepmother character and therfore brings depth to the entire movie. By avoiding the easiest pitfalls, the movie succeeds in spite of the formula. I will give this a B+.
Owned on: Blu-ray, Digital