The quarterly publication of the International Legal Technology Association
Issue link: https://epubs.iltanet.org/i/96072
movie review Finding yourself … with a boss from you-know-where Remember your first job in legal? There was the warm welcome from staff, the office tour, the first look at your new workspace, and maybe a happy hour to schmooze with your new co-workers. And there was the first day sit-down with your new boss who told you how pleased she was to have you on the team, and inviting you to pop in anytime if you needed anything. Sort of like heaven, right? In THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA, Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway) seems to have landed in heaven's opposite. Thanks to luck and timing and despite, amazingly, zero fashion smarts, she gets hired as a junior assistant to Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep), the imperious editor-in-chief of Runway Magazine. It's a dream job Andy's told "a million girls would kill for." But the thing is, it's not the dream job she craves as a serious journalist. With Andy's lackluster enthusiasm about joining the Runway team, the team is positively miserable about having this unfashionable young woman in their midst — and none of them are shy about letting her know it. "Human resources certainly has an odd sense of humor," quips Miranda's senior assistant Emily (Emily Blunt) when she first meets the drably dressed Andy. Soon thereafter, the magazine's senior art director, Nigel (Stanley Tuccci), snidely asks, "Who is that sad little person? Are we doing a before-and-after piece I don't know about?" 70 Peer to Peer But it's Andy's new boss Miranda who delivers the coup de graces: Miranda to Andy: You have no sense of fashion. Andy: I think that depends on... Miranda: No, no, that wasn't a question. That is a vote of confidence compared to what's in store for Andy in the weeks ahead: endless jabs and jibes, and eccentric and humiliating tasks. Not to mention the loss of those closest to her and a nasty eye-opener about the cutthroat politics of the fashion world. Gradually, with Nigel's help, Andy evolves into "Andrea" as she adjusts to the position and its many perks, including free designer clothing, choice accessories and a trip to Paris. She begins to dress more stylishly and does her job competently, finally earning her beyond demanding boss's tacit admiration by fulfilling seemingly impossible tasks. Along the way, she rediscovers who she really is and what she really wants to do. The movie ends with an uncharacteristically benevolent gesture by Miranda, but she doesn't let her softer side show for long as Andy walks off into her new future. Whether you've already seen THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA or not, I urge you to get the DVD and set aside a couple of hours with