The Devil Wears Prada
B+

It doesn't matter who you are, you're probably going to enjoy the Devil Wears Prada. I'm not familiar with the novel (obviously, I'd rather read cool stuff like Orson Scott Card), but however good it was it managed to spark one of the most surprisingly good movies this year.

There are many small contributions to the overall pleasantness of this movie, but to sum up the main reason to goo see it in three words: Meryl freakin' Streep. She is honestly one of the greatest actresses ever to go into the business. She is always perfect as absolutely whatever. I became a newfound fan of hers after seeing "A Prarie Home Companion", and this movie only bolstered my faith in her genius. She is marvellous in this movie as a delicious picture of corporate, self serving evil. She plays Miranda Priestly, the editor-in-chief of Runway, the country's most prestigious fashion magazine. She is always beautifully in character, her soft yet bitter voice, piercing stare, and pretentious gait. She is the heart and soul of this movie around which all the other elements rotate.

The story is of Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway) who has just landed a career boosting job in the offices of Runway Magazine under Miranda Priestly (Streep) the ultimate boss from hell whose demanding schedule and constant self-centerdness drive Andy's life into a collision course with a life lesson! (I'm being cynical, I actually liked the message.)

Fortunately, the filming, supporting roles, writing and directing are appropriate and refreshingly subtle. A chick flick like this is always in danger of going over-the-top with crazy antics and insane situations that are as unbelievable as they are unfunny. Fortunately for us, Prada keeps a good balance between the absurd and the realistic, making the situations Miranda puts Andy in believably ridiculous and thus, fun to watch. The supporting cast also bring great talent to the table. Stanley Tucci in particular as an obviously gay but not overplayed fashion guy working for Runway who ends up being the sort of mentor guy to Andy. Emily Blunt is also funny as the jerk "I-know-everything-and-you-don't" girl. Tucci is the most honorable mention with a collected performance that is entirely believable and even touching at some points.

Although this movie generally stays away from the pitfalls of the "chick flick" genre there are a few nitpicks that I have to mention. It must be stated that it is formulaic. The plot is similar to movies like "Mean Girls" and you won't have trouble guessing how it ends up, but that doesn't mean it isn't enjoyable to watch. Also, the movie starts out with the beautiful Anne Hathaway going into the Runway offices for the first time and we're supposed to believe she's kind of plain, when she's not. It's the classic "put-the-hot-girl-in-glasses-and-bad-hair" trick, just without the glasses or bad hair. They put her in a *gasp* sweater, which is supposed to be a huge fashion no-no and grounds for passing her of as hopelessly unnatractive. Maybe they're just commenting on the absurd exclusivity of the fashion world though, and she does look slightly hotter after she starts wearing the fashionable stuff. The other thing is that her home life is not unnatractive either. Her boyfriend and friends are part of a young-upcoming artsy kind of world that is cool in its own way and doesn't contrast enough with the high-class fashion world. They live in a loft in downtown NYC, they're not exactly scrounging. Plus her friends and boyfriend aren't very round characters. The final thing is more of a cosmic complaint, but I have to say it. Would it hurt the story too much if the guy Anne Hathaway lives with was her HUSBAND? No, absolutely not. There's this sort of new generation floaty moral construct which says "if you live with a guy, you shouldn't mess around with other guys" sort of like marriage but without all that sticky commitment and "for better or for worse business." When Andy's fidelity is called into question by a slick journalist she meets at a party, the audience is supposed to go "ooh that's wrong." But I think that living with this other guy in a morally ambiguous relationship in which there is no real love, just sex and common lifestyles, the latter of which being threatened by Andy's new job demands does (not surprisingly) call put their relationship in jeapordy. Their relationship was too thin for me, but I guess I'm old-fashioned.

Despite the complaints this movie is solid. It's a girl movie that all of the major genders will appreciate for its wit, great performances, worthy message and above all: Meryl freakin' Streep.