Adina Karim

the new york setting looked nice but didn’t feel as alive and the balance between fashion and relationships wasn’t there like before. the energy and magic of the first film just wasn’t there, even though i understand it’s meant to feel more modern. andy’s romantic storyline felt unnecessary and a bit forced. some styling choices were questionable.  simone ashley was serving faceee. i need nigel/stanley to adopt me.

still one of the most iconic 2000s movies. rewatching now vs when i was younger feels completely different. i actually get the fashion world and references now. what really stood out this time is her boyfriend. i didn’t notice it before, but now it’s so clear how insecure and pathetic he is. from the start he makes that comment about her getting a job at a fashion magazine while not dressing the part or fitting their standards, which already says a lot. and the second andrea starts enjoying her job and growing, he turns whiny and childish instead of supportive. she supported him when he got his sous-chef job in boston, but he can’t do the same. the double standards are crazy. he expects her to adjust to his career, but can’t handle her success at all. my opinion on Miranda Priestly changed too. she’s not nice, but i get her now. at that level you need a cold, rational mindset to survive. still one of my favorites. and with the budget that they had, i think they did a well done job.

the movie wasn’t bad at all, i actually enjoyed it, especially the performances. but it was like two hours long and somehow felt like 30 minutes?? the ending was so abrupt, like it just… stopped. which i guess makes sense if there’s a sequel coming, but still felt unfinished. performance-wise, Jaafar did a really good job, especially with the mannerisms and the dancing. but what was missing for me were some really important people in michael’s life. like janet jackson and diana ross not being there was noticeable. also, they touched on the relationship between michael and his father, but didn’t really explore the siblings at all. the siblings just felt like npcs, which is weird considering how important they were. throughout the movie i also kept thinking about how michael might’ve been neurodivergent or on the spectrum, and honestly it didn’t feel like a reach. overall it felt more like a musical biopic than a deep dive into his life, which is fine, but i do wish there was more focus on relationships and storytelling. that’s what felt a bit lacking for me.