Sequels can be a risky business, but The Devil Wears Prada 2 turns all the right heads on the catwalk, as the original cast return to deliver another stylish movie that's hugely enjoyable on the big screen. The streets of New York look stunning, and it feels like hanging out with old friends.
Emily Blunt delivers some killer one-liners (especially one involving Anne Hathaway's character Andy's eyebrows!), Meryl Streep is in top acerbic form as Miranda, and Stanley Tucci is always effortlessly cool. There is topical commentary on the rise of AI and what it might mean for the future of journalism, not to mention many other industries, and I'd just like to make it clear that not a single word I've ever written for this newspaper has been created using AI. All the ropey writing is entirely my own!
The film successfully exposes both the high glamour and faintly ludicrous nature of the fashion industry, and features a killer cameo by Lady Gaga, who also contributes a couple of ace new songs to the soundtrack, along with the likes of Sienna Spiro and Madonna. The pleasingly lean running time whizzed by without me once checking my watch, and it's definitely worth heading down the runway to your local cinema to catch it. Remember too, "shared carbs have no calories". I may be tempted to revisit the first film on Disney+ this weekend, as I haven't seen it in years.
The Sheep Detectives shouldn't really have worked on paper, but it absolutely does. It's a five-star triumph, with a flock of sheep turning into sleuths when their shepherd, George (Hugh Jackman), is bumped off quite early in the film. Before his untimely demise, George reads cosy crime and detective novels to his sheep, assuming they can't understand a word of what he's saying.
It's been described as Babe meets Knives Out, with perhaps shades of Chicken Run. It's got a top-tier cast of voice talents behind the sheep, including Patrick Stewart and Regina Hall, whilst Emma Thompson and Nicholas Braun are particularly excellent. It's wholesome, it's got a few dark moments which might scare its youngest viewers, it's got good jokes, and it blends all of these elements deftly to create a film that I'd happily watch again at the earliest opportunity.
Sweet, clever, well-acted, wholesome, and rather poignant in places, this is one the whole family flock should enjoy. I hope it does well. I was rather shocked at Monday teatime to be the only person watching it at my 5pm screening. It's in stark contrast to the huge audience who joined me to watch Michael at a recent Sunday morning showing.
Next week, my verdict on The Christophers and Normal, plus I am hoping to squeeze in a viewing of Obsession. I'm still urging you to catch Project Hail Mary before it vanishes from cinemas. It's a delight, and the streaming release date had to be pushed back due to its popularity with audiences.
