Do you ever feel like you suddenly start missing a specific moment from your life? That one childhood memory, that one moment with a loved one? And it’s not like you can get it back because it was then, it was unparalleled, and it won’t happen again. You may try to recreate it but that one core memory is unique and I’ve come to learn that that’s what’s beautiful. That made me think of one of the first times I watched David Frankel and Wendy Finerman’s The Devil Wears Prada. It with my sister and, after the watch, we were desperately trying to find who was singing the song in the opening credits (reader, it was Suddenly I See by KT Tunstall). The legacy sequel, The Devil Wears Prada 2, made me feel that nostalgia again. It’s one of the most perfect sequels I’ve seen, with highly entertaining script, memorable one-liners, and discussion-worthy themes that relate to our contemporary pop culture. 

It’s been twenty years since we last saw Andy Sachs smiling and waving to Miranda Priestly as the latter walks to her always-appropriately-on-time car service, while the Runway offices are towering above her. As the second film opens up, we see two very ambivalent things: Andy (Anne Hathaway) receives an award for her journalistic work while simultaneously finding out she’s being laid off from her current post… where she wrote the article she just won an award for. Sounds bonkers, right? And while the situation is hard to fathom, it’s very much prevalent amongst us, journalists.

While Andy is scrambling to find another position, she’s suddenly bestowed an opportunity she thought was closed forever: features editor at Runway, not solely focused on fashion, with more creative freedom. Seems like a dream come true, right? One would think so but it’s still not easy working with one Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep), even though it’s been two decades and some things simply cannot be said due to HR violations (and yes, Miranda struggles with it daily, which is a hilarious feat). 

With the new gig, Andy not only reunites with her old boss, but Nigel (Stanley Tucci), who still has plenty to say about Andrea’s eating habits (though perhaps with much less bite and rather endearing tone) and Emily (Emily Blunt) who now proudly works in exclusive retail at Dior. Throughout the film, we see Andy navigating the fashion world anew, but this time with much more confidence and control. It’s so good to see her flourish and how she grew into herself, while at the same time, still waiting for Miranda’s feedback on her newest feature (and hey, I feel her!).

As we observe the new world of technology advancement and “tech bros” who only want to consolidate to gain more control and power, we see Miranda in the midst of it: but she’s now more docile in the encounters with those types, especially as Ira dies (Tibor Feldman) and his son (B.J. Novak) takes over. I’ve seen many opinions regarding the character of Miranda. There are claims on social media that she has  lost her edge; but this is simply untrue. The Miranda of twenty years later knows exactly where she stands; she is acutely aware of how technology threatens the written word, as well as the worlds of fashion and art. Consequently, she knows precisely when to nod in agreement and when to stand her ground. 

After all, we still get plenty of brilliant bites from Mrs. Priestly. A prime example is how she updated the line “Has she been murdered?” to “Has she been human trafficked?” when looking for her assistants. And honestly, I’m not sure which one is worse to hear. So no, Miranda Priestly has certainly not lost her edge in the sequel.

But where are Nigel and Emily in all of it? Tucci’s Nigel, so perfectly portrayed by the actor (as in 2006), is still a fierce champion of Miranda, still waiting for his break while quietly helping those who need his help. He’s a true symbol of pure friendship, one that doesn’t ask for anything back. Emily, too, now grown, with two children of her own, attempts to make something of herself, while also showcasing her loneliness. Blunt does a great job returning to the character we’ve come to love two decades ago. 

The direction, the cast, and the script — those are the three components that make The Devil Wears Prada 2 such a worthy successor. The way they utilize nostalgia is perfect in a way it’s not overused, but also not underused. It’s given to us in perfect doses, references to the original material included. We not only get to see how our favorite characters transformed and grew over the decades, but we’re bestowed upon the aforementioned commentary about the state of journalism and the fall of valuable content just to please the masses with “scrollable content” that appeases to their depleting attention span. 

In that way, one can say the sequel is meta, commenting how lay-offs of full-time staff writers just to hire more part-time writers will hurt us in a long run. The film also comments on the decline of critical thinking and Andy becomes a beacon of rebellion and hope (even for her speech from the beginning of the film). With this messaging, The Devil Wears Prada 2 isn’t only entertaining and engaging, it says something about our contemporary world and has the power to influence how we approach the changes. Carefully, with open mind, but not normalizing having concrete logical concerns as attack. 

When I left the movie theater, I felt sudden hope, especially after feeling dread when thinking about all the changes that occurred and all the opportunities that dwindled due to the raise of gen AI, raises of costs, and budget cuts at different editor places I work and often collaborate with. 

I can already feel The Devil Wears Prada 2 becoming yet another iconic film. I am sure to own it and come back to it many times once it comes out on physical media. Believe me when I say you, too, have to experience the genius of its script, the comeback of cult characters, and the reflection it leaves us with. One message that I am left with is: don’t give up. If you believe in something, don’t give up. Keep going. And this is what I’m going to do.

Grade: A

The Devil Wears Prada 2 is now playing in theaters.