Twenty years later, Meryl Streep returns to being Miranda Priestly, in a less diabolical sequel, between a publishing crisis and a tribute to the Milan of fashion
Meryl Streep is still Meryl Streep, but The Devil Wears Prada 2 There’s little that’s diabolical about it. It is the Italian dubbing that is so, as well as the era currently experienced by the press and journalism, well photographed by the film, between closures, downsizing and publications hanging from a futile click. Miranda Priestly’s return will be an orgasm for fashion addicts; for cinephiles, however, probably just one more comedy. From April 29th the cinema.
Tenderly Miranda
20 years later The devil wears Prada, David Frankel returns to her glossy set, among looks destined to send fashion enthusiasts into raptures. When Meryl Streep enters the scene, with his iconic snowy short cut, he is immediately marvellous. But Meryl’s charm is not enough to give substance to a film from distracted scriptwhich has its crowning glory above all in changes of clothes and exclusive locations. Furthermore, the Italian dubbing struggles to restore the luster of the golden times.
Even the iconic magazine Runways it is not immune to the decline of the printed press and information in general. After a slip-up that compromises the relationship with investors, Miranda Priestly, whose rough character was drawn on the historic director of Vogue Anna Wintour is forced to accept Andy Sachs’ return to the team (Anne Hathaway), in the meantime she has become an investigative journalist. Not surprisingly unemployed.
Emily (Emily Blunt), instead, she changed her tune and was hired by Dior. When he meets Andy again, he observes: «You’ve changed. Not your eyebrows.”
«If there are no advertisers, it isn’t there Runways»: a bitter truth applicable to every newspaper. While the future of the magazine is at stake, now mainly in web format and reduced to a “dental floss” pagination, the future of Miranda is also at stake, in a new version that is anything but diabolical. His snobbish cynicism has reared its ugly headthanks to the politically correct brakes of Human Resources Runways – fun and fitting contemporary note – and the not very elaborate script, signed by Aline Brosh McKenna. Has the past twenty years weakened his ruthlessness? Miranda is often downright tender: old age spares no one. With affected music to underline the most intimate sequences, as in a conventional fairy tale.
Meanwhile, in search of online engagement, between an article on coconut water and one on enzymatic peels, Andy also hits the interview of the year. Lucy Liu it’s a pleasant new entry! Lady Gaga in version itself? Not memorable but lovely.
Milan protagonist
If in the first part of The Devil Wears Prada 2 already the cathedral of Milan stands out on Charlie’s vest (another new entry, played by Caleb Hearon), it is in the second part that Italy steals the stage. For the Italian public, the film is charged with a more magnetic interest, looking for locations to recognize. Here is the Lombardy capital, in its most glam atmosphere. There are aerial shots, the Brera Academy, Villa Arconati, the courtyard of the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, Palazzo Clerici, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele…
It is here that Miranda looks around, surrounded by magnificent architecture and luxury boutiques. It’s this one Hathaway’s favorite Milanese sequenceeven if she wasn’t acting. «I got to see that scene being shot, and it’s one of the most beautiful shots I’ve ever seen. I ran to Meryl after the first take and told her: ‘You have never been more beautiful than you are right now'”, said the actress.
Several cameos from Italian designers, from Brunello Cucinelli to Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana. The funniest? The one with Donatella Versace.
No fear, however, on the Cenacolo Vinciano front: obviously it was not desecrated and lent as a banquet hall. It was recreated on a soundstage by a team of Italian set designers.
The fashion riot
Here are some numbers to understand the fashion blaze that is taking place The Devil Wears Prada 2. Hathaway has more than 47 costume changes in the film, under the direction of costume designer Molly Rogers. Andy’s Hamptons outfit is by Gabriela Hearst with shoes by Chloé, a duffle bag by Fendi and a bucket hat by Amor Y Mezcal. On the set ofLast Supper in Milan: Menswear-inspired black velvet trousers with beaded striped suspenders from Armani Privé’s Fall 2024 collection, paired with pieces by Greek jewelry designer Nikos Koulis.
Streep, on the other hand, changes clothes “only” about 28 times. For the gala Runways she wore a custom-made dress, a red prom dress created by Pierpaolo Piccioli, when he had just joined Balenciaga. During the meeting with the group of consultants, he has a jacket decorated with tassels by Dries Van Noten.
For Streep it was fundamental dress Armani in Milanas a tribute to the legendary designer who passed away during filming. In a scene at the Museo del Cenacolo, she wears a jewel-encrusted evening coat by Armani Privé with an Oud blouse, Carolina Herrera trousers and YSL heels.
Although The Devil Wears Prada 2 she’s in a minor key, Meryl Streep isn’t. To those who asked her how she approached this sequel, she replied: «With the hallux valgusthat’s how I dealt with it,” laughing. «Complaining painfully. I can’t believe they made women wear those things fifty years ago.”
