Summer's Scariest Villain in a Surprisingly Good Movie

Rating: 8/10 (11 July 2006)

Meryl Streep as Miranda Priestly is the scariest villain of summer 2006. Creepier than octopus-face Davy Jones (Bill Nighy) in "Pirates," more thrilling than Lex Luthor (Kevin Spacey) in "Superman." Wow, what a performance Streep delivers in "Devil Wears Prada." We've been watching her thirty years, and yet she still surprises, still pulls this rabbit out of her sleeve. I'm in awe.
"Devil Wears Prada," is, of course, based on Lauren Weisberger's book of the same title. The book is a thinly veiled "roman a clef" that depicts Weisberger's stint as assistant to Anna Wintour, editor of Vogue. The book was trashed by New York critics, because it skewered a powerful member of their own clique.
Ironically, Merly Streep's wicked performance as an amoral, conniving, cut-throat editor is the reason to see "Devil" -- and, believe me, it's reason enough. I had more fun at this movie than at "Pirates of the Caribbean." The rest of the movie is weak. Anne Hathaway, as "Andy," the assistant, is very beautiful, but the script gives her little to do. She is a satellite revolving around Miranda / Streep. The script never explains why Andy is so eager to please Miranda, and so loyal to her. At a key moment, Andy breaks off a new relationship and rushes to "save" Miranda. Why? The script never explains. This is a shame, because Andy comes very close to selling her soul to her "devil," and that could have made for some interesting dialogue.
Andy's tight-knit group of friends are a complete wash-out, and that is a terrible shame. The failure to animate this crew will keep this movie from becoming a classic in the category of "All About Eve." The filmmakers seemed to want to make Andy's friends a squadron of political correctness: her boyfriend looks Hispanic, she has a friend who may be gay, and her girlfriend is black. This would have worked if these people were believable as friends, if there were any chemistry at all between them, but there is none. The boyfriend is especially weak. He displays as much emotional involvement as if he had walked in from a fast-food commercial being filmed in the studio next door.
But don't let that stop you. You've gotta see Streep. She's the very best devil this summer. And she pulls it all off with no special effects, other than her own wonderful talent.