‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ critics praise Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci’s return; 'All four leads step back into their characters’ shoes with ease'

‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ arrives in theaters Friday with Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci back in the fashion world that made the 2006 film a pop culture favorite. Early reviews and fan reactions point to a glossy, familiar sequel that leans on its cast, designer looks, and a story about print media fighting for relevance in the digital age.The Hollywood Reporter’s David Rooney wrote that “Hathaway is effortlessly charming in the role” and said all four main stars return with ease. He noted, “All four leads step back into their characters’ shoes with ease and swan around in fabulous looks.” Still, he called the movie “less a workplace comedy than a clothes horse, elevated by a classy cast.”Rooney also addressed early backlash over Andy’s assistant Jin Chao. He wrote that some East Asians objected to the character’s “perceived stereotype" but added that Helen J. Shen brings appeal to the role.Rolling Stone’s David Fear focused on the film’s media theme. “For journalists, this is a horror movie, no matter how stylish and dazzling you dress it up,” he wrote. He said the film treats old media values as something under threat.The Guardian’s Peter Bradshaw found the sequel warm and familiar. He wrote that it revisits several beats from the first film, including Andy’s bond with Nigel and another fashion-world crisis involving Miranda. “This is good-natured, buoyant entertainment. It’s wearing well,” he wrote.USA Today’s Brian Truitt said the sequel works best when it focuses on Andy and Emily. He wrote that Hathaway's and Blunt’s dynamic gives the film energy, though some plot turns feel close to the original. He called Justin Theroux “a standout” as Emily’s awkward, AI-loving tech bro love interest.Empire’s Beth Webb praised the main cast and wrote that Blunt’s timing helps keep the film lively. She also said Streep lets viewers “a little deeper into Miranda’s psyche” without losing the character’s mystery.The New Yorker’s Justin Chang wrote that ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ sells “a truckload of preposterous goods,” but does so “awfully well.”Fan reactions were also upbeat. One viewer wrote on X, “Just finished The Devil Wears Prada 2 and CINEMA IS ALIVE AND WELL.” Another called it “the perfect summer movie,” while one fan said it was “Not a classic like the first, but the cast is so good that it’s still fun.”The sequel follows Miranda and Andy as they try to restore Runway’s power while print publishing declines. Emily, now a luxury fashion executive, becomes central to their plan.