"Coming of Age Movie" for Millennials

I learned about this Christian Science Monitor article “Do You Get The Millennial Generation” from Carol Phillips on Twitter.com.  (BTW – Check out Carol’s blog – MillennialMarketing!)  The premise of the article is that the Baby Boomer, Gen X, and Millennial generations each have a coming of age movie that is emblematic of the characteristics/values of each generation.  For the Baby Boomers, it was The Graduate. For Gen X, it was Risky Business. And for the Millennials, the authors offer The Devil Wears Prada as the leading candidate.  Amidst a busy travel/work schedule, I never got around to seeing The Devil when it made its theater run.  So I found a copy of the DVD for $8.99, stuck it in my MacBook and settled in with a glass of iced tea in hand.  In the spirit of full disclosure, I’ve always been a Meryl Streep fan and she did not disappoint.

Here is the relevant summary from the Christian Science Monitor article by Morley Winograd and Michael D. Hais:

“Millennials are the American generation least bound by gender role expectations, so it isn’t surprising that the protagonist is a young woman with an androgynous name, Andy (Sachs). Because Millennials are also the most tolerant American generation, it’s not surprising that Andy’s best friends are an African-American woman, a gay man, and her sensitive boyfriend who aspires to be a chef. In true Millennial fashion, Andy constantly relies on her friends and parents, whom she adores, for love, advice, and support.

Andy is temporarily attracted by the glitter of the world of high fashion. However, like others of this generation who are driven by a desire to solve society’s problems, she realizes her true calling is far different.

She breaks with her boss, Miranda Priestly, at the fashion magazine where she works, so that she can take a job writing for a liberal newspaper. But, as a polite and conventional Millennial, the break is not harsh. In fact, her old boss, the devil herself, provides the crucial reference for Andy’s new job.

Everyone in politics and pop culture should learn the lesson MTV belatedly has. To really understand the preferences of young people, take a look at their generation and not simply their age. That will tell you everything you need to know”

Of course this a view of the Millennials.  I am curious if Millennials see The Devil Wears Prada as their coming of age movie.