OK, so I realize it has been a while since I have done any book reviews. I’m still trying to power through Holy Blood, Holy Grail…it ain’t easy reading. So in lieu of my latest book review, I am here to give you my special advance review of a book that was made into a movie, The Devil Wears Prada.

When Alli and I went to see The Break-Up on Sunday, she grabbed an invite to this advance screening of the movie. From what I gathered, they were looking to see how it would test with a similar audience because there were other attendees at the movie who came from some other theaters who had also seen The Break-Up.

Alli and I have been to our share of screenings, but we rarely ever get to attend advance screenings where we get to give feedback on the movie. This was one such occasion…some very official looking guy (maybe a director or producer) introduced the movie to us and told us we were the first audience to see the movie. I felt like a Hollywood insider in Kansas City…it was pretty cool.

Once the movie finally started (we had to be at the theater an hour early to ensure a seat…we brought in our own dinner…CHIPOTLE BABY!), it went quickly. The movie lasted about an hour and fifty minutes and just about all of it was really entertaining. In fact, it was so entertaining that I’m still thinking of it the next day. A day of space actually usually helps me to get a better perspective on movies. I absolutely love the experience of the movies so much that it is usually better for me to review a flick the day after to let that movie high wear off a bit.

There really wasn’t any wearing off on me for this movie (unlike X-Men, which got worse the further I got from it)…I thought this was terrific. From the people I have talked to that have read the book, it was built to transfer to film well. The story is interesting and the characters come alive on the screen. What is difficult to tell is whether that is a function of Lauren Weisberger’s original story and characters or the absolutely stellar acting of nearly the entire cast.

Meryl Streep leads this ensemble and she REALLY leads it. She elevates the level of acting of just about everyone around her in the movie (save Simon Baker, who is absolutely terrible). Rumor has it that Anne Hathaway was brought to tears by how good Meryl’s acting was in one of the many scenes that they shot together. I can understand how (not that I was brought to tears…it’s just that she is so ON that you can’t help but just marvel at her).

In addition, it was nice to see my boy Vinnie Chase in a movie…oh wait, that was Adrian Grenier, the actor who plays Vinnie Chase on Entourage (starting Sunday baby!!!). Grenier basically tweaks his Entourage character just slightly to play Nate, Andy’s boyfriend. He does a good job, but I was more pleased for him to just have some work, considering his last role in a movie that was this big was playing Melissa Joan Hart’s love interest in Drive Me Crazy (yes, the movie that featured the Britney Spears song).

For those of you who think this is a “chick flick”, I would say this: in some ways, it is. I can’t deny that the movie is about fashion and the two main characters are very strong women. But that being said, I would not classify this as a chick flick, just as I wouldn’t classify The Break-Up as a romantic comedy. This is a really different movie that is more about self-discovery and growth than it is about fashion. And not in a cheesy way. It still manages to be funny too, which – considering all the other things that I think it accomplished – is pretty impressive.

So here’s my recommendation:

Ladies…you’ll like this movie. It is very funny and smart and showcases the talent of two terrific women – one of them a Hollywood legend, and the other, most recently best known for making out in a backseat with Jake “I wish I knew how to quit you” Gyllenhaal.

Fellas…I know this is a tougher sell. I have been to a lot of “chick flicks” in my day and I’ve seen bad ones and good ones alike. This is one of the least “chick flick” feeling movies that I’ve seen in quite a while out of that genre. I imagine that your lady will want to see this movie (and after reading this review, why wouldn’t she?). I suggest that you go with her on this one. It’s a good flick and I think you’ll be surprised like I was.

It will be in theaters on June 30.