Few films have burrowed into the cultural psyche quite like the original The Devil Wears Prada. Nearly two decades later, its sequel has finally arrived - and the verdict, according to Vanity Fair's review, is... complicated. Not a disaster, not a triumph. Something in between, which might actually be harder to sit with.
The fashion: stylish but not iconic
If you're showing up for the clothes - and let's be honest, most of us are - you won't leave completely empty-handed. The sequel delivers looks that are polished and trend-aware, but they don't quite hit the dizzy heights of the original's runway moments. There's nothing that lodges itself in your memory the way Meryl Streep's white-haired silhouette or Anne Hathaway's transformation looks did. Call it competent. Call it safe. Call it a little disappointing if you were hoping to be genuinely dazzled.
The plot hits a little close to home
Here's where things get more interesting - and, fair warning, Vanity Fair flags light spoilers ahead. The storylines in this sequel apparently tap into themes that feel uncomfortably current: workplace dynamics, the evolving media landscape, and the messy realities of ambition in an industry that keeps shape-shifting. Whether that's a strength or a frustration depends entirely on what you came for. If you wanted escapism, the mirror being held up to real-world tensions might sting a little.
So is it worth watching?
That depends on your relationship with the original. If The Devil Wears Prada is comfort viewing you return to regularly, this sequel offers a certain nostalgia hit - familiar faces, familiar energy, the specific pleasure of returning to a world you've already fallen for. But if you're hoping for a film that stands on its own with the same cultural electricity as its predecessor, you may find yourself reaching for the original before the credits roll.
The sequel exists in that tricky space that many long-awaited follow-ups occupy: good enough to justify its existence, not good enough to redefine it. Which, in the age of unnecessary reboots and franchise fatigue, is maybe the most honest thing a sequel can be. Proceed with measured expectations and you'll probably have a fine time.
