THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA 2 -- A Stylish Return That Runs on Nostalgia More Than Necessity

Review by Chadd Clubine

The Devil Wears Prada 2 leans into nostalgia and delivers exactly what fans are likely hoping for. It doesn’t try to reinvent the formula—and it doesn’t really need to. The original The Devil Wears Prada ended on such a strong, thematically satisfying note that its legacy as a modern classic was secured from the start. Sequels tend to fall into two camps: they either build directly on what worked before or expand the world in new, deeper ways. This film clearly chooses the former. It doubles down on the tone, character dynamics, and sharp performances that defined the original. While the narrative structure closely mirrors its predecessor, fans will likely appreciate just how faithfully it recaptures that familiar rhythm and energy.

The core cast slips back into these roles as if no time has passed. It’s striking how seamless the transition feels after two decades—both in the performances and in how naturally the characters pick up where they left off. There’s a genuine sense of nostalgia in revisiting these familiar faces and seeing where they’ve landed, and that’s ultimately where the film thrives. Where it falters, though, is in its handling of character growth. Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep effortlessly recapture what made their performances so compelling, but the script gives them little room to evolve. Without meaningful development since the first film, the sequel struggles to justify its own existence or fully answer why this story needed to be revisited at all.
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It’s evident the story was built around the return of the core cast rather than emerging organically. While the characters are in different places than they were in the original film, the conflict itself feels more suited to a sequel that would’ve arrived just a few years later—not two decades on. Anne Hathaway remains as likable as ever, but she’s largely playing the same version of the character, despite her character’s implied success in the years since. Her willingness to fall back into old patterns—particularly in how she engages with Meryl Streep’s character—undercuts the growth the first film worked so hard to establish, making it seem as though she’s learned very little. At the same time, that dynamic does serve a purpose, allowing the film to land on its themes of kindness and forgiveness, even if the journey there feels somewhat underdeveloped.

Compared to the original film, the sequel aims bigger with its supporting ensemble, fully leaning into early-2000s nostalgia. When it taps into that sense of a simpler, more familiar time, it works—the film’s main cast carries that feeling effortlessly. That same ambition becomes a weakness with the supporting players. The story tries to cover so much ground that many of these characters don’t feel fully justified in the time they’re given. Justin Theroux brings plenty of humor, though his character lacks consistency. Lucy Liu is engaging, even if her motivations occasionally feel unclear. Meanwhile, Kenneth Branagh seems underutilized, and alongside B. J. Novak, there are moments where the performances feel oddly self-aware—almost as if the characters know they’re part of the spectacle rather than fully inhabiting it.

The story is fairly straightforward. It’s not a beat-for-beat remake of the first, but it comes close enough that much of it feels overly familiar. Rather than placing these characters in genuinely new stages of their lives, the film largely revisits old ground, which makes several “surprising” moments feel easy to anticipate. A budding romance for Anne Hathaway’s character, for instance, is telegraphed well in advance. While the pairing itself is charming, it doesn’t feel necessary for her growth, as if the film defaults to familiar storytelling beats instead of exploring more meaningful development. Moments like this—along with the way she continues to interact with those around her—suggest the sequel is leaning too heavily on the structure of the original rather than carving out its own identity. In the end, it struggles to justify its existence beyond the pull of nostalgia.

​Overall, The Devil Wears Prada 2 thrives on its tone and performances, effortlessly transporting you back to the feeling of watching the original film for the first time. There’s comfort in that familiarity, and the cast leans into it well. That said, the story doesn’t quite justify the film’s existence. It clings too closely to the structure and beats of its predecessor, relying on nostalgia rather than carving out a compelling new direction. Still, the film knows exactly what its audience wants—and for many fans, that self-awareness will likely be enough to make the experience satisfying by the time the credits roll.

The Devil Wears Prada 2 is in theaters May 1st!

RATING: 3/5