“The Devil Wears Prada” still wears its humor well
Much like many of the outfits it features, “The Devil Wears Prada” remains fashionable. The hit 2006 comedy – which Freeform shows Wednesday, Sept. 13, and Thursday, Sept. 14 – is one of the most popular mentor-employee tales yet told on the screen. Adapted from Lauren Weisberger’s best seller by “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” writer-producer Aline Brosh McKenna, the film boasts two of the most memorable performances to date in the careers of Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway, who get very strong backing from an expert supporting cast. Hathaway plays Andy, an aspiring journalist who manages (despite her lack of knowledge of haute couture) to land a position as an assistant to New York-based fashion-magazine titan Miranda Priestly (Streep), who redefines “no-nonsense” as she displays zero patience with anyone she feels is wasting her time or attention. Still, she’s somewhat amused by Andy, who displays plenty of ambition while being on turf that others would be better-suited to. Not entertained at all by the situation is high-strung Emily (Emily Blunt), Miranda’s main deputy, who is obsessed with keeping things running smoothly for the demanding boss. She can’t quite get over that Andy has been brought on board, and her determination to keep a tight rein on everything that happens in the office eventually suffers a big setback that puts Andy in even more of a position to show what she can do. That opportunity comes to involve a trip to Paris for a prestigious fashion show, where behind-thescenes intrigue about staffing gives Andy considerable insight to the darker side of the business she’s gotten into. Her main counsel through it is Nigel (a superb Stanley Tucci), Miranda’s right-hand man who has hopes of being recognized for his loyalty with a big promotion. Also playing a role in the proceedings is Christian (Simon Baker), another fashion-industry figure who has designs on Andy, despite her relationship with boyfriend Nate (“Entourage’s” Adrian Grenier) that starts to erode over her devotion to her job.