a guilty pleasure - in the best sense

Rating: 7/10 (26 December 2006)

"The Devil Wears Prada" is a fish out of water comedy based on the novel by Lauren Weisberger whose experiences at "Vogue" Magazine inspired her bestseller. The film follows aspiring journalist Andy Sachs into the offices of "Runway" magazine, as she stumbles into the ill-fitting shoes of the second assistant to tyrannical editor Miranda Priestly. Andy has no intention of being outdone by this job which she initially looks down upon, but as the story rolls along she begins to sell out her dreams, spending every waking hour on call for her new boss and the inevitable transformation that brings.
Anne Hathaway brings certain clumsiness to the role of Andy that makes the tones of "Pollyanna" that much easier to spot. As endearing her characterization is, her performance is frequently overshadowed by Emily Blunt, who plays Miranda's bitter, British, first assistant. Of course neither can hold a candle to Meryl Streep's flawless take on Miranda, the devil in the title. The film makes for great fun and good comedy with just a little bite thanks to its sharp dialogue and strong casting. There are many missed opportunities to offer a more scathing statement on the fashion industry, but its focus on vain people with self-importance issues does hit several high notes.