Very much like a slightly less camp version of Ugly Betty for the big screen.
Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway) is the bright eyed, wet behind the ears newbie, looking for a position in New York’s prestigious fashion magazine, Runway. Editor in chief, Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep) is the hard nosed, ice queen that rules the office with an iron fist. Will the plucky youngster find her feet and save the day or be swept away in the path of this ferocious boss?
No prizes for guessing what the answer to that question is! But lame and formulaic though the plot maybe, it is definitely the worst thing about this film, as the performances from Hathaway and Streep are a pleasure to watch. Both parts are fleshed out with just enough character to make them fall short of being caricatures, while still retaining the larger than life aspects that make this movie such fun.
It’s a chick flick, there’s no doubt about that, but it’s head and shoulders above the usual dross that’s supposed to pass for light entertainment. The banter and put downs are spot on, not only between Andy and Miranda but also between Andy and original assistant, the wonderfully catty Emily (Emily Blunt).
While I wouldn’t rush out to watch this, if you’re looking for a date movie that works on all levels or a movie for curling up with on the sofa on a Sunday afternoon, you could do a lot worse.