The Devil Wears Prada (PG)

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The ViewLondon Review

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Review byMatthew Turner04/10/2006

Three out of Five stars
Running time: 109 mins

Enjoyable, smartly directed comedy with a witty script and superb performances from Streep and Hathaway.

What's it all about?
Anne Hathaway stars as journalism graduate Andrea (Andy) Sachs, who gets a job as the second assistant to Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep), the fearsome, powerful editor of New York fashion magazine Runway. Initially, Andy seems way out of her depth as she knows nothing about fashion and has trouble meeting all of Miranda's impossible demands.

However, Andy's a fast learner and with the help of her colleagues (Stanley Tucci and Emily Blunt), she eventually earns Miranda's approval, becoming a bona fide fashionista in the process. But she's not quite sure she likes the new Andy, and neither is her boyfriend (Adrian Grenier).

The Good
Hathaway is wonderful in the lead role: she's adorable, funny and gorgeous. Streep is fabulous too, resisting the temptation to play Miranda as an out-and-out monster and instead playing her as a believable character.

There's also superb support from Stanley Tucci and Emily Blunt (from My Summer of Love), who almost steals the film as Miranda's snooty (British) first assistant, Emily. In addition, the film takes its subject seriously – the world is convincingly portrayed and there are two terrific speeches about fashion (one about making it, the other about loving it) that will make you see it in an entirely different light.

The Great
The film is also extremely well directed – Frankel keeps it whizzing along nicely and orchestrates some lovely scenes, aided by Theodore Shapiro's catchy score.

That's not to say the film is entirely without flaws, however. For one thing, Miranda's never quite as bitchy or as terrifying as her reputation suggests. Similarly, the secondary characters (Andy's boyfriend; new love interest Simon Baker) are underwritten and unconvincing.

Worth seeing?
This is fluffy, enjoyable fun, with quotable lines and superb performances. Worth seeing.

Film Trailer

The Devil Wears Prada (PG)
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Content updated: 25/05/2013 05:43

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