I Love Miranda Priestly and I'm Not Sorry. That's All!

Like any other Meryl Streep fan, I watched Devil Wears Prada 2 the weekend it released. The first movie is essentially a personality test. You either hated Miranda, loved Andy, adored Nigel, or tolerated Emily. I was all four at different points in my life.

It's a classic you can watch on a cosy night, a bad day, or to end a perfectly good one. Evergreen content that works at any time, season, or mood. If you've watched it, you know the feel-good factor. If you haven't, you have no idea what you're missing.

That's why, as an adult, I had the right amount of expectation. And somehow, it still surprised me. Not just me, but every girl around the globe who watched these characters from the comfort of their house during their growing-up stage. It felt iconic, inspirational, beautiful, and most importantly, it allowed us all to dream. Because the movie made Andrea Sachs seen, and everyone could relate to her. 

The sequel was no exception. It really made me feel like meeting my long-lost family in the new era of the digital world, where we could be irrelevant, unsuitable, miserable and bitter together. I mean, I don't know about you, but Andy's emotional breakdown after losing her job and simultaneously winning an award felt close to home. She makes me believe in the goodness in people. Every time I watched her struggle with Miranda over the years, she restored my faith in the goodness of people. Her go-getter and loyal nature show us there is nothing wrong with being kind and helpful. And it was so good to see her as the same person, even after 2 decades.

But the sequel was a bit different, and it showed a different side of everyone, not just Andy. That's what made it so perfect. We got to see the humane, tender and generous side of Emily. Finally, Nigel got the stage for himself. It was time, and he deserved every bit of it. The couture was S-T-U-N-N-I-N-G. We got to see Lady Gaga, famous models and who can forget the famous cerulean sweater. 

Yes, the cerulean sweater did make it into the sequel with a better styling approach, I must add! That, for me, was the main highlight of the whole movie. 

I loved every bit of 2 hours in the theatre, and I didn't want it to end because of the familiarity. It was a breath of fresh air my weekend needed after a short trip, making me feel at home. Plus, I was over the moon to see Lily still with Andy after 20 years. Yes, their friendship lasted longer than any other guy, which made her very particular and protective of Andy. 

But of course, the highlight of the story was the main character. Everyone was looking forward to her. Yes, Miranda Priestly! The sequel was hard and unforgiving on her. I guess the Human Resources Department did give her a very hard time for being, well, her - undeniably and shamelessly, ambitious! 

She isn't spicy and authoritarian anymore. She is more tame and layered because she is tired of fighting with the new technology, capitalism, and the short attention span of the new generation. She knows AI can never take the place of real art and design, but she is surrounded by morons who cater to the wants of the immature generation that do not understand the value of communication, hard work, and vision. 

People who complained that there was no character development expected cheap drama and costly garments. Instead, they got top-notch attire with eloquence. 

Here are my 2 cents for ya! 

Buddy, you come from a smartphone generation. You have no idea what it was to draw different designs on a piece of paper, write things down with a pen, take inspiration from actual art and artists, and set the tone for a new generation towards elegance and class. Character development isn't about giving nostalgia, drama, and diss. The plot was about how the pre-smartphone generations are trying to save the world from tasteless uniformity and a lack of creativity, so you can lead your life the way you want and not in a box sold by a millionaire. The sequel was a fight between the world with uniqueness and AI takeover.

At the end, we saw the emotional side of Miranda that no one saw coming. She fought for what she believed and stood for while having the gift of the gab! She makes it look like reaching for the stars is so easy from a far distance, but it's one hell of a every day journey for her. 

Yet she wanted the world to know the price of being her and being there. The toll of her personal life that nobody cares about. Missing memorable moments of her twins, ungodly hours after work, wanting to get the best out of people, being ruthless for what she wants, always expecting the best out of everyone, and unapologetically proud of what she does. I am in awe of how conscious and aware she was of making her choices and their consequences. Even after all this, she maintained a certain je ne sais quoi. She awfully reminds me of one of my leads. 

She was rude, blunt, upfront and always aimed for perfection. No excuses! Always expected to put your best foot forward, and truth to be told, I learned a lot from her. I am still thankful for whatever she taught me in a short time frame. No, it's not the Stockholm Syndrome! It's reality. You get to learn a lot of discipline, routine, and consistency. Someone religious about these 3 has to be strict because greatness comes to those who dream and achieve the unthinkable. Every day cannot be the same, but aiming to deliver the best every day can give a different measure of greatness. And wanting that high level of success keeps people like Miranda and my lead at Bay. Having said that, I would never like to become a boss like her. She is definitely dreadful to please and work with! Maybe I am talking about both!

But gosh! There was a spark in her eyes when she said at the end, "I love working". I could tell how much she enjoys doing what she does. And that Runway had her soul and heart! For a minute, I wanted to feel that and reach where she was, but then giving up on other things is not my cup of tea, so I held my horses and slept on it. 

The sequel is surely going to the same evergreen list of movies as the first one, but with a new vibe and tone. And I have to agree, don't be ridiculous, Andrea, everyone wants to be her!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

That's all! 

XOXO

The Queen of Random Things