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Sunday, February 24, 2008

Zoolander

"Have you ever wondered if there was more to life, other than being really, really, ridiculously good looking?"

People always say that blondes and models are stupid...I wouldn't say Zoolander glorifies these beliefs, but it doesn't exactly refute them either.

Derek Zoolander (B. Stiller) is a famous male model. Aside from that he is a complete idiot, loveable, but not too intelligent. This is all apparent when he is interviewed by Matilda (Taylor) for Time Magazine. Zoolander is again nominated for the Male Model of the Year Award, but he loses out to the newest model, Hansel (Wilson), "Hansel! He's so hot right now!". As Derek ponders his future in male modeling, he loses his best friends/roommates in a "freak gasoline fight accident" and retires from his chosen career.
He tries to return to his roots in New Jersey mining country, but his family is ashamed of him and he no longer fits into their world. With no other choice, he lets his agent Maury (J. Stiller) talk him into working for the biggest designer, Mugatu (Ferrell). But Mugatu has his own evil plans for Derek...so it's up to Matilda and the last-person-you'd-expect-to-help, Hansel, to say the day.


Ben Stiller is a comic genius...sometimes he just doesn't know when to stop. Thankfully, this is one film where Stiller shines. Derek is so oblivious and innocent and many other fascinating qualities...it just works. Will Ferrell is another comic who tends to be hit-or-miss, but his Mugatu is spot on! The cast is great, including some small roles like the funny casting of the other Zoolander men: Jon Voigt as his dad, and, Vince Vaughn and Judah Friedlander (30 Rock) as his crazy haired brothers. I don't know much about the real world of models (other than America's Next Top Model contestants)...and I'm afraid I didn't really learn anything new by watching now. I love the banter between his roommates and much later the relationship between Hansel and Derek. Overall this is a funny film and you can't help but ask people if there really is more to life than being "really, really ridiculously good looking" or hope that David Bowie shows up to judge a walkoff or any other gag they manage to pull off. The cast is truly fabulous and they manage to make every gag work.

Dude, it's quotable: and more importantly than that, where else will you find a film that has break dance fighting?
Rent it!: yeah it sounds dumb, but honestly what comedy sounds good/reasonable when you talk about it? See it, totally worthwhile.

Zoolander (2001) 89 minutes
Rating: PG-13 on appeal for sexual content and drug references
Director: Ben Stiller
Starring: Ben Stiller as Derek Zoolander
Owen Wilson as Hansel
Christine Taylor as Matilda
Will Ferrell as Mugatu
Milla Jovovich as Katinka
Jerry Stiller as Maury Ballstein

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