Meryl Streep, Haute as Blazes

As Andy, Hathaway is perfectly respectable, but it feels like she's channeling her signature character, Princess Mia of Genovia, into some kind of third version of the "Princess Diaries" films. She starts out with the casual clothes and uncoiffed hair, loyal friends and fierce belief that she's fine exactly as she is. But then there's a life-transforming visit to Runway's famed wardrobe closet, a stop at hair and makeup, and -- voila! -- Andy's sporting thigh-high black Chanel boots and looking as fab as the models and staffers who "clack" their way through the magazine's halls in their oh-so-high Jimmy Choos.

The film gets the fashion industry, and that certainly helps. Sure, there are plenty of the cliched (but true-to-life) references to the models and assistants living their lives in fear of food and fat ("just one stomach flu away from my goal weight!" says Andy's fellow assistant, the already emaciated Emily). But an early-film treatise from Miranda on the economic power of the fashion world -- not in the book, by the way -- makes sure viewers realize that fashion is not all about hot models and perfect shoes. It's a feudal system, one in which the color choice for this season's must-have designer belt -- a decision made, of course, by the royals -- dictates what shade sweater Kmart will be selling to the serfs next year. And Miranda is its undisputed queen.

In supporting roles, Stanley Tucci does a divine job as Nigel, Miranda's catty art director, who calls poor Andy (size 6, gasp!) "the smart fat girl" and, upon spying her lunch selection in the company cafeteria, says, archly, "You do know that cellulite is one of the chief ingredients in corn chowder?" But Nigel's also the architect of Andy's outward transformation and, eventually, her one real friend at the magazine.

Adrian Grenier, star of HBO's "Entourage," plays Andy's devoted boyfriend, who makes her grilled-cheese sandwiches with gruyere at midnight (he's an aspiring chef) and is at first bemused, then completely confounded, by his girlfriend's transformation. He's rumpled and quite pretty to look at, though his character is really around only to show that Andy's makeover is not just skin-deep.

Ah, but what about beauty, power, success? Does anyone not want that? Well, let's not spoil the ending (as obvious as it might be to even those who have not read the book). But late in the film, after Andy is absolutely gobsmacked by how vicious her boss can be, Miranda turns to her and says in a perfectly confident, serene voice:

"Everybody wants to be us."

No, Meryl, everybody wants to be you .

The Devil Wears Prada (109 minutes, at area theaters) is rated PG-13 for partial nudity (models in lingerie) and some sexual situations.