The Wizard of Oz meets The Mary Tyler Moore Show

Rating: 4/10 (26 February 2012)

Can a young woman make it in the big city? Will the Wicked Witch of Women's Wear Wizardry destroy her? Can her lipstick get any redder without stopping traffic on 57th St. & Fifth Ave.? All important questions, you will agree. For the answers, see "The Devil Wears Prada."
Meryl Streep's character in this movie is named Miranda. That is the name of the daughter of the magician Prospero in Shakespeare's "The Tempest" ("O, wonder! How many goodly creatures are there here! How beauteous mankind is!") In a way, Miranda in this movie is also a magician, and surrounded by the cutest elves, pixies, etc., outside of a Hobbit/Hogwarts reunion, she transmutes schmattas (rags) and sequins into treasures, or, rather she transforms the makers of these treasures from dwarfs to giants. She isn't very nice about it, but she isn't very nasty either -- and that's what makes her performance so jaw-dropping good.
Softly, softly, her voice modulating between a whine and a whisper, she holds her followers paralyzed with fear/admiration, and gets her way with a little petulance and a little pouting. This, after all, is the world of high fashion, and inference and understatement will move mountains where threats and high drama will only garner smirks and titters.
Before her withering glance, the rest of the cast can only slink and slither and hope that the gorgon's stare won't turn them into stone.
The movie is funny, the acting very good, and the sets and ambiance capture a certain time and place beautifully. While not a feel-good movie like "Funny Face," it is cheery and well worth your time.