The Devil Wears Prada 2 – Miranda is Irresistible in 4K

Returning to The Devil Wears Prada 20 years later was anything but a simple operation. The first film found a rare balance, capable of humorously depicting a competitive and ruthless environment without losing sight of its characters. The sequel chooses not to copy it and instead shifts towards journalism, with Andy Sachs forced to confront Miranda Priestly once again, returning to Runway.

The new scenario allows the film to hit a nerve regarding the crisis in publishing and the transformation of media, introducing a theme that could have become the sequel's true strength. It's a shame that this direction is progressively sidelined to make way for the nostalgic component.

The Return to Runway: Confirmations and Uncertainties

Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci reprise characters that the audience knows very well, and their return possesses a naturalness difficult to recreate (at least in the original language). In particular, Streep continues to dominate the scene with a Miranda in difficulty yet capable of transforming even a simple line into a memorable moment.

The problem is a less solid screenplay. The story goes through uncertain passages, and the ending seems to seek a more convenient than truly convincing solution. While The Devil Wears Prada 2 doesn't achieve the impact of the first film, it perfectly understands what the audience wanted to find again. Here is Elisa Giudici's extended artistic review.

Digitally shot at native 4.6K resolution (Arri Alexa 35 and Leica SL2) with a final 4K master from which this splendid (centralized) edition was created. Image format 2.39:1 (3840 x 2160/23.97p), HEVC encoding on a dual-layer BD-66, for an improvement that emerges especially in how colors, lights, and contrasts are rendered with greater naturalness thanks to HDR-10 and Dolby Vision.

Compared to the SDR 2K version, the leap in definition is visible, especially in the background. Even less vibrant tones gain greater depth: in the Dior office settings, for example, whites and beiges show more evident nuances. The red of Miranda's dress in the opening sequences appears closer to crimson, while in the exterior shots, particularly intense blues and greens emerge.

Dolby Digital Plus 7.1 (1.024 kbps, 754 kbps in 2K) Italian track is of very good quality, providing a pleasant listening experience with central channel music and some ambient elements, made even more palpable if the track passes through a true multichannel system. The downside is the localized dialogues, which don't shine: for example, it's hard to believe that Tucci's voice is the same as Gabriele Lavia's from the 2006 film. Original Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (24 bit) with ATMOS objects, without however marking a clear distinction from the DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 (24 bit) counterpart on the included 2K disc. The songs are enhanced, including Lady Gaga's performances; the surround is very well done with traffic noises effectively distributed across channels and good involvement in urban and outdoor sequences. The long crescendo towards the final fashion show is particularly successful.

The extras are distributed across the discs. The 4K disc only includes the audio commentary by David Frankel, Aline Brosh McKenna, and Molly Rogers. On the 1080p Blu-ray, additional features include Level Up: Icon Update (6'), dedicated to the relationship between the original film and the sequel, Inside the Fashion Closet (6') about the costumes, and Front Row Access: Filming in Italy (4'). Also included are a gag reel (4') and the music video for “Runway” by Lady Gaga and Doechii. Italian subtitles are available.