By Hilary Rowe
Aug 7, 2006
I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy the 109 minutes I spent watching The Devil Wears Prada, primarily because Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep are quite amusing in their roles. Nothing in this movie was profound enough to provoke a second viewing, but it does offer a needed message about simplicity and integrity.
Hathaway plays Andy, a recent college graduate longing to make it big as a journalist in New York City, who finds herself working as the second personal assistant to Miranda, the infamous editor of Runway fashion magazine, played by Streep. The job proves to be more difficult than Andy imagined, but she rises to the challenge of working for an absurdly (and humorously) demanding boss.
Andy soon becomes stuck between the world of her down-to-earth college friends and her trendy workplace, where ridiculous and unflattering styles somehow pass for fashion. Trying to fit in both places, she soon loses touch with what really matters to her.
I was impressed by the way this film subtly promoted virtue, especially charity and perseverance. In the end, Andy succeeds not because of her beauty or intelligence but because of her kindness and determination. I also appreciated the moments when Miranda, the tough career woman, showed the authentic and vulnerable side of her character. The only morally troublesome part of this innocuous film is its casual treatment of sex, which is not seen onscreen.
Good for entertainment and a quick lesson in integrity, The Devil Wears Prada will especially benefit teenagers. Adults looking for a harmless laugh will appreciate it as well.