The Devil Wears Prada: Film vs. Novel
By: K.D. Perry
qualexcel@gmail.com
Set against the backdrop of high fashion New York, The Devil Wears Prada
is about a girl by the name of Andy Sachs, a recent graduate, whose dream is to
write for The New Yorker. Although Andy has no desire to work in fashion, she
takes the job as Editor – in – Chief Miranda Priestley’s junior assistant after
being assured that, after a year of service, she can pretty much secure any job
she wants in the city. Little did she know, this job that “every girl would die
for,” would literally kill the innocent girl –next- door image and cause her to
sacrifice everything near and dear to her heart.
The Devil Wears Prada both novel and movie are thinly veiled accounts
of Lauren Weisberger, aka Andy Sachs working for Anna Wintour, aka Miranda
Priestly at “Vogue”, aka Runway. The novel gives a great fashion history lesson
of that time while the movie gives a vague yet Hollywood twist on Weisberger’s
accounts. The novel really gives a detailed account of things but if you are
looking for an entertaining plot and characters that will get you stuck within
the margins, you might do better by looking elsewhere. The novel takes a patient
reader to read between the forethoughts of Andy and the “unnecessary detailed
accounts not pertaining to the glitz and glam of Runway magazine.”
“At least after seeing the movie or reading the novel, your boss won’t
seem so bad come tomorrow.”
The movie directed by David Frankel, I think is a great way to go if you’re
into the whole Hollywood satire of the fashion world theme. I must say that the
movie and the book offer a vivid pictorial of the fashion world. You literally
envision the black four inch high Minolos and the Black velvet like Oscar de la
Renta gowns
and the “Clackers”, as Andy call them, staring and criticizing and
the true meaning of “Label hoe” coming to life. I think you will get a kick out
of who Andy describes as a seven foot tall, two hundred and fifty pound,
muscular, spray tanned guy, wearing a denim Cat woman suit with a hood that is
completed with a fur cape. Yikes! To tell you the truth that actually seems like
something I’d try.
In all I give the Movie 5 stars just because of the brilliant cast line up and wonderful balance of one-liners, mean-spirited humor, and serous catty overtones. The novel I respect a lot and would give it 4 stars being that it sometimes felt as if it “moved at a glacial pace…” Although, the ending was a little more complete and believable, and I truly felt that the slow start and the all details throughout gave the book a subtle outro. I’d seriously suggest reading the book before you see the movie. It will save you the headache of trying to omit the mental movie snippets and stills. At least after seeing the movie or reading the novel, your boss won’t seem so bad come tomorrow. The Devil Wears Prada is rated PG-13 and the novel, a New York’s best seller, is sold where ever books are sold.