I will start this review by stating I know people who have (and currently still are) working as executive assistants, and that as a result, The Devil Wears Prada was more anxiety inducing and more frightening than any horror movie I have ever seen.
I don’t know what to say about The Devil Wears Prada.
I am not talking out of my ass here either. I do understand that Miranda’s job is demanding and the fashion industry is cruel and unforgiving– you have to be the best of the best in order to thrive. And despite Miranda being at the top, she has to continuously demand perfection in order to stay there, so when things aren’t perfect it very much is the end of the world. To be an executive assistant means you have to be a mind reader, and that is not easy for everyone, especially my friends who think assistant work is scheduling and checking emails. It is so much more than that, and the higher up the executives you support are, the more work is required. I get that, and I can appreciate it — working in entertainment, I know how quickly you can fall behind even due to circumstances outside of your control.
If you like Miranda Priestley (Meryl Streep), you either can appreciate complicated characters, or you have never been an executive assistant. Most people are the former, which I can respect. And if you’re an executive assistant who can sit through this movie, more power to you. Watching her berate, bully and torture Andie (Anne Hathaway) is an all too real experience for so many people I know. Having people demand things from you without explaining context and then getting mad at you for asking questions, only to completely ignore you when you do something right, are some of the most humiliating and debilitating experiences someone can go through.
I thought watching this movie as an adult would be a better experience than when I watched it as a child, where I thought Miranda was cartoonishly evil and that people like her didn’t exist outside of cinema. However, it was worse. Watching something play out that has happened to friends, and myself, was genuinely upsetting. Watching someone be reduced to tears for things that are genuinely outside of their control was heart wrenching. The fashion is gorgeous, and the message of finding confidence in yourself and the ability to leave toxic situations is empowering, but it also doesn’t leave an impact. There is a halfhearted attempt at humanizing Miranda doesn’t really matter when she goes on abusing everyone around her. Do I have sympathy for her? Of course, her job is demanding and her life is difficult outside of her work. But then watching her just tear into people who very well could be my friends is not…really that great at keeping up that sympathy.
And then the people in Andie’s life also suck and aren’t supportive of her in any capacity. This is all too real for executive assistants — their bosses are exceedingly demanding, and in order to keep their jobs the assistants have to be readily available. People outside of that career don’t understand that, and punish the assistant for it. I’m not entirely sure what the point of this movie is, except that loving your job is bad, but also so is hating your job. Audiences should feel empowered when Andie finds her voice, but I instead just feel relieved and like I can finally go to the bathroom. The fact that this is getting a sequel sends a shiver up my spine Terrifier never could.
I don’t know who enjoys this movie unless you genuinely love fashion or, I guess, love the Ryan Murphy style bitchy older, white woman. I can’t stand this movie and I can’t suggest it to anyone I know unless they are a creative who has never worked a customer service or service oriented job and just love that speech Meryl Streep gives about cerulean sweaters. I don’t.
Watching a movie where Andie is punished for having a life outside of work by her job, but then also getting punished by the people in her life for prioritizing her job, I really don’t understand what I am supposed to take away from this whole experience. I guess it’s to stand up for yourself and there is no making other people happy. A valuable lesson, but one I could watch and learn in a less stress inducing way. That’s why Legally Blonde exists.
The acting is superb – Meryl Streep does incredible work as Miranda Priestly and, as I said, does a very realistic impression of this type of boss. Anne Hathaway shines as Andie, the sweet turned sassy assistant who shines in a very demanding role. Stanley Tucci is playing the same role he plays in everything, but he is genuinely such a comforting presence (as he always is).
I can appreciate why someone likes this movie — I don’t understand it myself, but I can see what there is to like about it, especially in the acting. But I know people in Andie’s shoes that have been left with PTSD they are still in therapy about. And while my friends should not be in an industry that is so demanding, they didn’t know any better. So believe me when I say, Mirandas do exist and if you don’t think you can handle it, executive assistant work may not be for you.
Consider this a cautionary tale and always, always, prioritize your own well being — just like Andie learns to do. Only hopefully, for you, you can learn this in a less stressful way.