The Devil Wears Prada Reviews

The Director wears Prada

I thought this was a comedy about the fashion industry, but it wasn't funny. I was dissapointed to find it was the story of a cardigan wearing size 12 becoming a hideously, yet 'fashionably' dressed 'size 0'. I laughed at the film rather than with it. The involvement of the Sex in the City team (a series I loved) has changed this from a satire of the fashionistas into a homage to designer labels.

Plotless, Pointless and Dull

Why any critic gave this film even a remotley good review is beyound me, they must be in the pay of the studios! This piece of cinematic trash is so bad that you will hate yourself in the morning. There is no plot. The story is static, moving only to dress Anne Hathaway in more designer clothes. The clothes on her are the best thing about this film. I went to the cinema to watch this film, thinking it was a comedy, I had a one laugh at the start of this rubbish, we all did, my friends and I, and then sat there for an hour and a half thinking when will this end. I should have left half way through but I had a large container of popcorn!

sooo dull

this was beyond dull, there was no plot and the acting was...well bad. I can see why they call Ugly Betty 'Devil wears Prada but good' as that is how I kept referring to it. The ending was poor and like the girl from Belfast, I left once I finished my popcorn as did most of the audience.

Absolute tedium from start to end

We wasted 2 hours watching this pointless, plot-less, dull story about the fashion industry. I couldn't work out what the film was meant to be as there was no love story, no comedy, no intrigue - nothing. Meryl Streep was the only reason I even tried the film 'cos she's never done a bad film - but even her brilliant acting skills couldn't liven up such a boring film. I just wanted to punch Anne Hathaway - she was so annoyingly girly all the way through with her doe-eyed stares and sweety little smile - sickening. The infererence was that as a woman as long as you are pretty, keep schtum and smile lots whilst looking through your fringe, everyone will love you - especially men. She was soooo boring, the type of girl I can't stand and only the dullest of men like. One of the most disappointing films I've seen especially after all the hype. Those great devil fork shoes weren't even in it!

[Highly rated reviewer]

Better than I thought it would be

Middle-aged bloke definitely not looking forward to watching this. After starting to watch Ugly Betty then growing tired of each episode reworking the previous one, I looked upon The Devil with a great deal of sceptiscism - but - I was proved wholly wrong. This is not real-world fashion, but it kept my interest throughout and I was not dissapointed at all. I've known much worse movies in my time, so if you're looking for an evening's light entertainment you can't go far wrong. You can't say fairer than that. All those who knock this movie take themselves, and their opinions, far too seriously. Sorry, but its true!

[Highly rated reviewer]

Light good fun Rom-Com

Why put the boot in or be down at heel about this one... people are treating this all too seriously. It is a perfectly good light comedy that touches just the right spots and doesn't put a Prada dressed foot wrong. If you like a good, slightly schmaltzy, light fun comedy this is for you. It doesn't have a deep meaningful message, other than for you to take it at face value and be entertained for an hour and 49 minutes. A recommended watch.

[Highly rated reviewer]

Details of your incompetence do not interest me.

It looks like a chick flick, dresses like a chick flick and name-checks a fashion house in its title, so you’d be forgiven for thinking that this is the long-rumoured now confirmed Sex And The City movie — and the presence of sometime SATC director David Frankel at the helm would suggest you’re right. But under the to-die-for threads of The Devil Wears Prada lurks a career-minded morality tale, wherein the gender of the two leads is of little importance — except that male stars would do themselves an injury in heels this high.

While the traditional girly movie sees some allegedly frumpy but really foxy starlet make eyes at an unattainable babe-magnet before realising she loves her best guy mate, this focuses on the oft-overlooked question of what our heroine actually does for a living. Hence this leading lady lives in a credibly small and grungy apartment, dresses badly and seems to be unacquainted with either Max Factor or Estée Lauder. There are dishy men around — Entourage’s Adrian Grenier as her long-suffering boyfriend and Simon Baker as a predatory writer — but they’re window-dressing for an altogether more businesslike tale.

Andy’s story is about getting her foot on the career ladder, a familiar goal even for those who haven’t gone through the meat-grinder of media recruitment. But her starter job as junior assistant to Runway magazine editor Miranda Priestly soon sees her life being made over along with her wardrobe. In the lead, Anne Hathaway continues her transition from cheery and freshfaced child star to cheery and freshfaced but accomplished adult actress (see also Havoc, reviewed this issue), with a down-to-Earth charm that draws inevitable comparisons to a young Julia Roberts. But, come next March, it will be Meryl Streep who receives her umpteenth Oscar nod for her role as the deliciously nasty Priestly.

In the slave-and-tell novel on which the film is based, Priestly is an unkind caricature, allegedly based on legendary Vogue editor Anna Wintour. Streep, however, manages the formidable task of giving her capricious tyrant some humanity without diluting her essential awfulness. Speaking in a soft, almost seductive monotone, she tears strips out of her assistants and withers unlucky editors with a glance — all while retaining a strange, charismatic hold over all around her. Soon her malign influence begins to warp her newest assistant, until Andy too finds herself adopting the values of her Mephistophelean mentor. Miranda’s credo may be “fashion is fabulous” rather than “greed is good”, but make no mistake — this is Gordon Gekko with better hair.

It’s left to two other Runway employees to do the film’s comedic heavy-lifting. The ever-dependable Stanley Tucci injects pathos into an underwritten part as the very camp and extremely shrewd art editor Nigel, Miranda’s right-hand man. But it’s relative newcomer Emily Blunt (My Summer Of Love) who very nearly steals the film as Miranda’s senior assistant Emily, veering brilliantly between Miranda-lite bitchery and moments of real despair (admittedly, despair that is occasioned by the threat of taking away her couture, but it’s real nevertheless).

From New York high society to Paris Fashion Week, the combination of low comedy and high fashion works beautifully. There are plot elements and the odd line that seem forced or formulaic, but the overall impression is fresh and stylish — an autumn/winter show that’s worth a look, even for the sartorially-challenged.

This smart and funny creation is not just wish-fulfilment for the Sex And The City generation — it’s a Wall Street for the 21st century.

Does he?

This movie is about the cutthroat business of fashion and how people within this industry would sell their own mother to make it big. We enjoyed this movie, but I have to say that it wasn't as 'cutththroat' as I had read about. If you would like to watch a nice, feelgood film then this could be for you.

[Highly rated reviewer]

Fanatical about Fashion

At first I thought that this may have been a film promoted by a good trailer and was a little disappointed because I like Meryl Streep and believe that she is a very talented actress.

However it is worth putting up with the first ten minutes because this is not a one trick film, it actually has good characterisations, a plot and a very good cast indeed.

Once the Director has got over the setting up of Miranda Priestly (Streep) as the Uber Bitch and Andrea Hathaway (Andy Sachs) as the dedicated journalist who knows nothing about fashion then the plot synopsis starts to sizzle.

With the gorgeous English Actress Emma Blunt as the dangerous senior assistant Emily, Stanley Tucci as the luvvy fashion guru Nigel and Simon Baker as the seductive journalist Christian Thompson the story starts to build to a credible standard.

We see Andrea's (Andy) friends at first scoffing then jealous at her progress, watch while Miranda starts to trust Andy and cheer when Andy finally sorts out her priorities.

Regrettably the ending is pure Hollywood Saccharine, but nevertheless I still found it an enjoyable film overall.

Worth hiring, as like so many 'Chick Flicks' its OK but not Great. Made me laugh and therefore worth the money!

[Highly rated reviewer]

Balanced mixture of drama and comedy

I was not sure how this film was going to pan out, on one level I expected a fairly stereotypical ‘chick flick’ whilst on another level having considered the plot source and the strong cast including Meryl Streep, most noted for powerful drama, I wondered whether there could be more to this movie. I did not have to watch much before I realised that I was in many respects correct in both expectations. The Devil Wears Prada does follow a lot of the well known ‘chick flick’ ethics, the dowdy girl turned glamour puss, the ex boyfriend forgotten and of course the bitchy support character, however there is more to this film than just that. The plot is highly captivating and at times thought provoking, added to a few genuine laughs my wife and I were really quite impressed. The story follows a girl whose chances of pursuing her dream of being a big city journalist would be greatly enhanced if she can succeed working for notoriously tough Runway Magazine editor Miranda Priestly (Streep). The acting is for the most part highly competent for the genre whilst the plot moves quickly and entertains throughout offering a balanced mixture of drama and comedy. My wife loved this and I enjoyed it too so they must have done something right, unless you thoroughly detest this genre we would recommend this movie. 8/10. 4 Stars.