Movie Review: THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA Author: Jenn Bobbitt Wednesday, July 5, 2006 U.S. Release Date: June 30, 2006 Distributor: 20th Century Fox Director: David Frankel Writing Credits: Aline Brosh McKenna Cast: Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, Stanley Tucci Genre: Comedy/Drama MPAA Rating: PG-13 OFFICIAL WEBSITE: www.thedevilwearspradamovie.com TRAILERS: www.apple.com./trailers Copyright © 2006 Jenn Bobbitt and ON-FILM.NET. All rights reserved. I am often quite hesitant to see a movie based on a novel that I have read, particularly when it is a piece of literature I have enjoyed. All too often, the on screen version makes a desperate attempt to adhere to closely to the original literary work, setting itself up for certain failure in the eyes of those who appreciated the book. Not so for The Devil Wears Prada. Aline Brosh McKenna does a superb job of creating a screenplay based on Weisnberger’s novel with enough originality to make it work flawlessly on film. The movie follows Andrea “Andy” Sachs (Anne Hathaway), a sweet suburban girl, through a journey of often superficial self-discovery as the assistant to Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep), the eccentric and vindictive editor in chief of Runway magazine. Andy is constantly faced with the challenge of choosing between her friends and boyfriend (Adrian Grenier) and the consuming tasks set before her by Miranda and her fellow assistant Emily (Emily Blunt). When it all becomes too much, Andy is able to find solace in Nigel (Stanley Tucci), Miranda’s compassionate albeit pretentious right hand man. Anne Hathaway, who has made a name for herself by monopolizing the “princess” movie empire, does a fabulous job bringing the character of Andrea Sachs to life. Although Andy bears many similar characteristics to Hathaway’s other leading roles, we are able to see a more mature and sensual personality development in this role, a sign that Hathaway is ready and willing to grow into roles requiring more depth and grit. Meryl Streep provides the character of Miranda Priestly the stoic heartlessness one would expect from her in the role of protagonist. My one complaint to Streep’s characterization is that it lacked a level of glamorousness required of the editor and chief of a major fashion publication. Despite chic wardrobe choices and well coiffed hair, Steep brought a level of dowdiness to what should have been the icy personification of classic beauty. Though the screenplay strayed from many of the key details in the book, choosing instead to adhere to major plot structure, the endearing qualities of Weisnenberger’s novel were not lost in translation. This is a movie the makes you feel good to be you, even if you are one of those girls pursuing a glamorous life. JENN’S GRADE: A Jenn Bobbitt is a reviewer and writer for ON-FILM.NET. SEND JENN FEEBACK!