Las Vegas Mixtape v52: Serious Head Trip, Mainstream Cinema Blues, and Poolside ‘80s Show — Track #2 (of 5): “The Devil Wears Prada 2” @Regal Cinema/Red Rock Resort

Track #2 (of 5): “The Devil Wears Prada 2” @Regal Cinema/Red Rock Resort

Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, and Emily Blunt welcome you back to the devil’s playground. (Image: Courtesy of the film)

Tonight All Shook Up 6:00 PM · Athena Showlounge, Alexis Park Get tickets

It’s not often I go to a mainstream movie theater, instead preferring an arthouse movie experience like the exceptional Beverly Theater downtown. Sitting through a full 30 minutes of advertisements and coming attractions, as I did recently at the Regal Cinema inside Red Rock Resort, was pure torture.  It wound up vibe-killing my anticipation for the film I went to see, “The Devil Wears Prada 2.”  Which, alas, was likable but disappointing.

Much as I wanted to fully enjoy it like the original film—a big pop culture/fashion moment—the sequel’s narrative felt intermittently forced, although it does relevantly capture how the corporatization of the publishing world has hurt print magazine sales.

Meanwhile, I much prefer the icy and cruel Miranda Priestley character (Meryl Streep) in the original over this sequel’s updated role in which she’s cornered into showing some vulnerability when her power is threatened. Sorry, an unrelentingly mean Miranda Priestley is infinitely more sizzling. Perhaps the sequel will play better on the streaming platforms.