Put these designer heels down if you have not seen “The Satan Wears Prada 2” — spoilers lie forward!
Partway by way of “The Satan Wears Prada 2” — the legacy sequel to the beloved 2006 authentic, based mostly on Lauren Weisberger’s novel of the identical identify — a significant pop star makes an look. So what precisely is Woman Gaga doing on this extremely anticipated 2026 launch?
For context, “The Satan Wears Prada 2” takes place many years after the unique and finds Andrea “Andy” Sachs (Anne Hathaway) out of a job after mass layoffs at a significant Manhattan newspaper. When she’s requested to steer the options division at Runway Journal beneath her outdated boss — Anna Wintour stand-in Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep) — she jumps on the alternative and is finally additionally reunited with Miranda’s unfailingly loyal right-hand man Nigel Kipling (Stanley Tucci) and Andy’s former co-assistant Emily Charlton (Emily Blunt), now a bigwig at Dior. As all of them put together to fly out to Milan to stage a Runway style present within the Pinacoteca di Brera museum, Nigel asks Miranda if she will be able to name in a favor with a significant musician. Miranda balks, however apparently, she does it … and that is the place Woman Gaga joins the movie.
Miranda enters Gaga’s dressing room earlier than the efficiency, and it is clear the 2 girls are at odds for some cause, although it is by no means defined why; Gaga merely says she solely confirmed up as a result of Nigel threatened that she’d by no means get a Runway cowl once more if she declined. To steal a line from one other pop famous person, there’s apparent “unhealthy blood” between the 2, however once more, the film does not give us a cause. Nonetheless, it makes excellent sense that the movie requested Gaga to look.
Woman Gaga is smart throughout the world of The Satan Wears Prada 2, however her cameo feels shallow
Not solely does Woman Gaga carry out a brand new track, “Form of a Lady,” throughout the in-universe runway present for Runway in “The Satan Wears Prada 2,” however she additionally contributed a number of songs to the movie’s soundtrack — together with “Glamorous Life” and “Runway” (a collaboration with fellow Grammy winner Doechii). Sure, Gaga’s efficiency is enjoyable in “The Satan Wears Prada 2,” however that is as a result of Gaga is such a charismatic and engaging performer that she may in all probability enliven a routine colonoscopy. (Your complete world, level actually, simply obtained to see that charisma on full show throughout Dangerous Bunny’s excellent Tremendous Bowl halftime present.) The remainder of the film, nevertheless, does not do her justice.
To be clear, Gaga has appeared in some stone-cold cinematic stinkers earlier than, together with “Jokie: Folie á Deux” and “Home of Gucci” — and she or he’s additionally acquitted herself admirably as an actress, most notably in Bradley Cooper’s remake of “A Star is Born.” The canonical spat between Gaga and Miranda offers some gentle amusement and an enormous “wow” second when viewers first see her, however her cameo feels — pun very a lot supposed — shallow.
That factors to a a lot bigger structural downside with “The Satan Wears Prada 2,” which is that it throws a ton of stuff on the wall and, relatively than seeing what sticks, merely strikes on; the Miranda-Gaga beef being an enormous thriller can be lots funnier if the film did not preserve introducing plot threads and dropping them. In the end, although, the Gaga cameo jogged my memory of a distinct legacy sequel that enlisted a significant diva for a shock efficiency, and that is not a praise.
Woman Gaga in The Satan Wears Prada 2 harkens again to a different terrible legacy sequel
In 2010, Michael Patrick King determined, for causes I will by no means absolutely perceive, to launch “Intercourse and the Metropolis 2,” a flat, lifeless continuation of the story made well-known by the unique HBO collection created by Darren Starr and led by Sarah Jessica Parker. Whereas Parker’s Carrie Bradshaw feels unfulfilled in her marriage to John “Mr. Huge” Preston (Chris Noth), she begins the film by attending a marriage between her two associates Stanford Blatch (the late, nice Willie Garson) and Anthony Marentino (Mario Cantone). Sure, the one two main, authentic queer characters from “Intercourse and the Metropolis” get married, despite the fact that they canonically hate one another, as a result of they’re each homosexual males. That is a utterly separate challengealthough.
As a shock for everyone on the marriage ceremony, it seems that ultra-diva Liza Minnelli is there to officiate the vows and carry out. Not like Woman Gaga in “The Satan Wears Prada 2,” Minnelli does not sing an authentic however performs Beyoncé’s “Single Girls (Put a Ring on It)” with backup dancers. It’s at all times a present to see Minnelli carry out, however this scene is dreadfuland I am deeply sorry to say that it popped into my thoughts, utterly unbidden, whereas I watched Gaga sing “Form of a Lady” in Milan. That’s, once more, not a praise; each Gaga and Minnelli deserve higher cameos in higher motion pictures. Cease losing our greatest residing divas on these unhealthy sequels, Hollywood administrators! I am begging you!
“The Satan Wears Prada 2,” Gaga cameo and all, is in theaters now.
