'The Devil' takes the soul outta the book version.

Rating: 3/10 (2 July 2006)

I read The Devil Wears Prada in a couple of days. It was a page-turning and very clever. I was so excited to see the movie because I wanted to see the book on the screen. That, however, did not happen. If you like it when innovative writing is turned into movie clichés, then by all means, go see this movie. Right now. The first problem I had with it was the fact that none of the characters were the same. I'm not talking about a slight change in persona, or a name change, or a physical change. I am talking about a complete overhaul. A disappointing one. Where Andy's book boyfriend is a compassionate, do-gooder teacher, he's a whiny, OC-esquire restaurant cook in this one. (Teachers can't be hot, duh!) Her graduate school friend with a bent to the bottle? She's a successful gallery worker. Andy herself, is a washed-out version of herself. Even "the devil" has a much softer spot than I would have preferred. What bothers me most about this movie? EVERYTHING - EVERY LITTLE DETAIL - works out in the end. And who's partially to thank? Mrs. Preistly! The real devil never would have been so soft. If you're going to see this, stay away from the book first. It will still be just another belch of Hollywood trip, but at least you won't know what it could have been.