The Devil Wears Prada 2 and What’s Making Us Happy
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The NPR podcast Pop Culture Happy Hour reviews The Devil Wears Prada 2, a sequel to the 2006 fashion industry classic that reunites Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci in their iconic roles. The film follows Andy Sachs, now a mid-career journalist, as she returns to Runway magazine after being laid off, reentering the orbit of her formidable former boss Miranda Priestly. While the episode acknowledges the film’s nostalgic appeal and strong performances, the hosts offer mixed reactions: Ronald Young Jr. and Isabella Gomez-Sarmiento praise its character-driven storytelling, thematic depth on media industry shifts, and faithful evolution of the original’s spirit, while Linda Holmes finds the narrative thin and overly reliant on superficial 'shenanigans' and excessive cameos. The discussion also touches on the film’s handling of Miranda’s softened persona, underdeveloped romance, and the broader cultural context of women in power. The episode concludes with a lighthearted segment on what’s making each host happy—NBA playoffs, a Mad Men rewatch, and the satirical novel Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke, which may feature Anne Hathaway in a leading role.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 succeeds as a sequel by focusing on character evolution and relevant workplace themes rather than relying solely on nostalgia.
Meryl Streep’s Miranda Priestly is less sharply defined than in the original, which some viewers found a loss of edge, though others saw it as a natural evolution.
The film’s emotional depth—particularly around career identity and industry collapse—is underdeveloped, overshadowed by fashion montages and cameos.
The romantic subplot is underwritten and feels unnecessary, undermining the film’s core focus on professional ambition.
The novel Yesteryear, which may be adapted with Anne Hathaway in the lead, offers a satirical take on modern 'trad wife' culture and is a standout personal pick for Linda Holmes.
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The Devil Wears Prada 2: A Return to Runway
“The Devil Wears Prada 2 finds her as a mid-career laid-off reporter who gets an unexpected opportunity to lead the features department at Runway.”
Ronald Young Jr. on the Sequel’s Strengths
“I definitely liked it a lot. So I think it was a good sequel and a good template for what sequels should be.”
Isabella Gomez-Sarmiento: Nostalgia and Career Focus
“The Devil Wears Prada was my favorite and I think by far the best because it's less focused on the romance than it is on the actual career and the work.”
Linda Holmes: Thin Story and Overcrowded Cast
Linda critiques the film’s thin narrative, excessive cameos, and underdeveloped emotional beats, calling it more like a Super Bowl commercial than a real movie.
“The novel Yesteryear... is a satirical story about how this woman who has been vocally against feminism and modernity reacts when kind of the full force of what doing without those things would mean for her is brought to bear on her own life.”
“I definitely liked it a lot. So I think it was a good sequel and a good template for what sequels should be.”
“It is possible that we can see LeBron James playing more playoff basketball in the weeks to come, and I am so excited.”
Host
Guests
The Devil Wears Prada 2
media
Miranda Priestly
other
Andy Sachs
other
Linda Holmes
person
Meryl Streep
person
Ronald Young Jr.
person
Runway
organization
Isabella Gomez-Sarmiento
person
Anne Hathaway
person
Emily Blunt
person
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