A Return to Runway — And Runway Drama
Ottawa cinephiles and fashion devotees, dust off your best Chanel knock-offs, because The Devil Wears Prada 2 is here — and it's bringing the entire original gang back with it. Directed once again by David Frankel, the long-awaited sequel picks up with the inimitable Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep, imperious as ever) approaching retirement at Runway magazine, only to find herself facing down a formidable new rival: none other than Emily Charlton, played with magnificent venom by Emily Blunt.
Anne Hathaway returns as Andy Sachs, drawn back into Miranda's orbit as the two former adversaries form an unlikely alliance. Stanley Tucci is also back as Nigel, offering the film's most reliable comic warmth.
What Works: The Performances
The undeniable draw here is the cast. Streep is essentially playing a legend playing a legend at this point, and she does it with a chilling precision that makes every whispered threat feel like gospel. Blunt, meanwhile, gets to fully unleash Emily — no longer the put-upon second assistant but a ruthlessly ambitious power player who has learned every trick from Miranda's own playbook. Their scenes together crackle.
Hathaway slots back into Andy's shoes with ease. The chemistry between the three leads is the film's strongest asset, and when they're all in a room together, Prada 2 genuinely sings.
Where It Stumbles
The original was lightning in a bottle — a film that said something real about ambition, identity, and the cost of success, wrapped in jaw-dropping Valentino. The sequel, for all its pleasures, sometimes feels like it's more interested in referencing that magic than recreating it. The plot leans on rivalry dynamics that feel familiar, and a few subplots involving the next generation of fashion industry climbers don't quite land with the same bite.
The costume design remains spectacular, and the production design is suitably over-the-top. But there's a sense that the film is occasionally coasting on the audience's affection for the original rather than earning its own emotional stakes.
The Ottawa Verdict
For Ottawa audiences who grew up quoting "That's all" and debating whether Andy made the right choice throwing that phone in the fountain, Prada 2 is an easy, enjoyable night out at the movies. It's the kind of film that rewards fans with plenty of callbacks and fashion-forward spectacle, and it's a strong summer pick for date nights, girls' nights, or solo cinema trips at SilverCity Gloucester, Lansdowne's Landmark, or the Cineplex on Rideau.
It's not a perfect sequel — but it's a confident, well-dressed one. And in the world of Runway, confidence is everything.
Rating: 3.5/5 — Still fierce, still fabulous, still worth your Saturday night.
Source: Ottawa Life Magazine
