Devil Wears Prada, The DVD Review

"The Devil Wears Prada" reviews

DVD

The Devil Wears Prada

Author

anonymous

Date reviewed

2007-02-08 16:00:15

Provider

MRIB

DVD Review

Fashion mags have become the hottest TV theme since Sex & The City's Carrie went to Vogue. Ugly Betty has become one of the biggest TV shows and this film takes an equally satirical look at the industry.

The Devil Wears Prada is based on a best-selling book by Lauren Weisberger, who worked on a glossy mag and its star Meryl Streep has deservedly been nominated for an Oscar for her role as uncompromising editor Miranda Priestly.

The film feels fantastically authentic, from the cut-throat cruelty to the appalling lack of manners. In this world, being nice signifies weakness. Hence when Andy (Anne Hathaway) turns up for an interview at Runway magazine she is met with a barrage of snide comments by the boss's first assistant, Emily (Emily Blunt). The real trouble starts, though, when word gets out that Miranda is in the building, prompting pandemonium in the office as hair is attended to and flat shoes are swapped, hastily, for six-inch heels. Inevitably, Andy is seduced by her environment, despite Priestly being an horrific boss and gradually trades up her boyfriends along with her clothes, implying that her morals have been warped by the industry.

Simplistic as that sounds - people change, after all - The Devil Wears Prada sidesteps the obvious fashion clichés, by and large, revealing the seductive nature of frivolity while showing what an empty life fashionistas lead outside of their ego-stroking office environment.

The DVD includes an audio commentary with director David Frankel alongside the producer, costume designer, screenwriter, editor and director of photography. Additionally there are deleted scenes, gag reels and featurettes including: The Trip To The Big Screen, Fashion Visionary: Patricia Field Getting Valentino, Boss From Hell, NYC & Fashion and International Fashion Editor.

Copyright © MRIB 2007.