The Devil Wears Prada

Name: The Devil Wears Prada - Christian Parent's Review
Item: The Devil Wears Prada
Rating: 1
Author: StoryScanner

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General Review

Parent's Guide to The Devil Wears Prada

The Devil Wears Prada (2006) is a comedy-drama that follows Andy Sachs, an aspiring journalist, as she takes on a demanding role as junior assistant to Miranda Priestly, the powerful editor-in-chief of a prominent New York fashion magazine. The film charts Andy's journey from an outsider disdainful of the superficial fashion industry to someone who gradually adapts her appearance and priorities to succeed in Miranda's cutthroat world. This transformation challenges her personal relationships and core values, leading to a compelling narrative about ambition, materialism, and self-discovery. The movie is geared towards young adult and adult audiences, offering a humorous yet poignant look at workplace dynamics and the high cost of professional success.

Things to Consider

High1

Disrespect & Rebellion

Disrespect is a central theme, primarily embodied by Miranda Priestly's tyrannical and demeaning treatment of her employees. Her assistants, particularly Emily Charlton, also display snarky and dismissive attitudes. Andy Sachs initially endures the disrespect but ultimately rebels against the materialistic values of the fashion world.

Miranda Priestly is characterized by her 'extreme rudeness' and 'deliberate rudeness' towards her staff, constantly mocking and insulting them. For example, she dismisses Andy's journalistic aspirations and criticizes her appearance frequently. Emily Charlton also displays disrespect and snarky behavior towards Andy, particularly regarding her initial lack of fashion sense. Andy eventually rebels against Miranda's values and the demands of the job by quitting, symbolically throwing her phone into a fountain.

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Medium5

LGBTQ & Gender IdentityRomance and Sexual ContentProfanitySubstance UseScary & Intense Content

Low3

ViolenceWitchcraft & OccultAnti-Christian Themes

Medium5

LGBTQ & Gender Identity

The film features a prominent gay character, Nigel Kipling, who serves as Andy's mentor. Additionally, the movie has gained significant popularity within the queer community, with Miranda Priestly being embraced as a 'gay icon.' While direct LGBTQ+ romantic relationships are not central to the plot, the representation of a gay character and the film's cultural impact within the LGBTQ+ community are notable.

Romance and Sexual Content

The movie includes implied premarital sexual activity and suggestive themes. The protagonist, Andy, lives with her boyfriend, and later has a one-night stand with another man. While explicit sex scenes or nudity are absent, the situations are clearly indicated and contribute to the film's 'sensuality' rating.

Andy Sachs lives with her boyfriend, Nate, and their cohabitation implies a sexual relationship. While broken up with Nate, Andy has a one-night stand with Christian Thompson, which is implied by her waking up in a disheveled bed. One analysis mentions Christian Thompson 'forces her to kiss him until she finally consents, and and has sex with him later in the film,' suggesting a degree of coercion in the interaction. The opening credits also feature women, including Andy, in 'bras and panties' or 'various states of undress.'

Profanity

The film contains moderate profanity, including mild curse words and a few stronger expressions. There are also instances where God's name is used disrespectfully as slang, which may be a particular concern for Christian parents.

Substance Use

The film depicts characters consuming alcohol, with one instance of the protagonist getting drunk. There is no representation of illegal drug use or explicit tobacco use.

Drinking is present throughout the film, with Miranda's staff often seen with alcoholic beverages at events. Andy Sachs 'gets drunk' while she is broken up with Nate and subsequently has a one-night stand. A character mentions drinking a potent punch at a party and 'woke up in Hoboken wearing nothing but a poncho and a cowboy hat,' implying significant intoxication. The movie is notable for not depicting any tobacco use, despite being set in an industry often associated with it.

Scary & Intense Content

The film's intensity primarily stems from the highly stressful and emotionally abusive workplace environment under Miranda Priestly. While not 'scary' in a horror sense, the constant pressure, verbal put-downs, and demanding nature of the job can create significant emotional tension and discomfort for viewers.

Miranda Priestly is consistently portrayed as a 'terrifying' and 'really mean' boss, whose tyrannical behavior creates constant stress for her assistants. Andy Sachs experiences significant emotional intensity as she tries to meet Miranda's 'irrational demands' and navigate the 'bitchy and backstabbing world of fashion journalism.' The film can be intensely uncomfortable to watch due to the relentless insults and demeaning treatment Andy endures.

Low3

Violence

The film contains no graphic violence, gore, or death. Any 'intensity' in the movie stems from the high-pressure, emotionally abusive workplace environment rather than physical altercations. There is a brief mention of a taxi incident, but it is not depicted graphically.

Witchcraft & Occult

The film contains no elements of witchcraft, sorcery, magic, demons, or other occult themes. The title 'The Devil Wears Prada' refers metaphorically to the tyrannical nature of Miranda Priestly, not actual supernatural evil.

Anti-Christian Themes

The film does not contain explicit anti-Christian plotlines or mockery of Christian beliefs. However, it presents a largely materialistic and secular worldview, with ambition and worldly success prioritized over moral or spiritual values. The casual use of God's name in vain is the most direct anti-Christian element.

The title 'The Devil Wears Prada' uses 'devil' metaphorically to describe Miranda's personality, not as an actual anti-Christian entity. The primary concern for Christian parents would be the casual and disrespectful use of God's name, such as characters saying 'For Christ's sake' and 'Oh God' as slang. The film's overarching focus on wealth, fashion, and career advancement can be interpreted as promoting a materialistic worldview that contrasts with Christian values.

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The Devil Wears Prada starkly illustrates a worldview centered on materialism, ambition, and external validation, often at odds with biblical values. Characters, particularly Miranda Priestly, are driven by a relentless pursuit of power and professional success, showcasing a life where personal relationships and moral integrity are often sacrificed for worldly achievements. The film suggests that while such a life may bring external glamour and influence, it ultimately leads to isolation and emptiness, especially evident in Miranda's private struggles and Andy's eventual rejection of that path. This offers a subtle critique of vice, implying that true fulfillment lies outside the materialistic rat race. Andy's moral journey demonstrates a conflict between her initial ethical stance and the compromises she makes to survive in Miranda's world. While she momentarily embraces the superficiality and ruthlessness, her ultimate decision to leave *Runway* and return to her core values represents a theme of moral accountability and a desire for redemption from a corrupted path. Family values are depicted as strained or broken under the weight of career demands, highlighting the negative consequences of prioritizing work over loved ones. Faith representation is virtually absent, apart from instances of profanity that misuse divine names. The film, therefore, implicitly challenges viewers to consider what truly constitutes success and a meaningful life, contrasting a secular, materialistic pursuit with a potential return to more authentic and relational values, without explicitly engaging with Christian doctrines.

Additional Context

Best For Ages

PG-13. The film is officially rated PG-13 by the MPAA for some sensuality, mild language, and sexual overtones. Due to themes of intense workplace stress, implied premarital sexual relationships, alcohol use, and instances of profanity, it is recommended for audiences aged 13 and older, with parental guidance advised for younger teenagers. Some parents may find the underlying themes of materialism and the glamorization of a demanding career environment to be concerns for younger viewers.

Good to Know

Parents should be aware that while the movie is rated PG-13, the pervasive themes of a toxic work environment, emotional manipulation, and intense pressure may be more impactful than the official descriptors suggest. The film's exploration of compromising one's values for career success provides opportunities for discussion with older teenagers.

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