Director Ben Stiller
Genre Comedy
Cast Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Will Ferrell, Kristen Wiig
Rating PG-13
Release Date February, 12th 2016
“Derek and Hansel are modelling again when an opposing company attempts to take them out from the business.”
On the heels of the Zoolander 2 release I felt the need to wipe the dust off the old Zoolander DVD to get myself a refresher of all things Derek Zoolander. It’s crazy to think that it came out 15 years ago, only a few weeks after 9/11. Zoolander seemed to lay the groundwork for utilizing multiple cameos, something that the HBO series Entourage began doing with huge success. I almost forgot about the early cameo from Donald Trump as well as the Paris Hilton cameo towards the end of the movie (where is she these days, rehab?). I guess I need to renew my subscription to Us Weekly. Nonetheless, director/writer/actor Ben Stiller decided 15 years was long enough to prepare audiences for a Zoolander sequel. Side note, I highly doubt the film was in development for that long.
I actually enjoyed Zoolander 2 more than I thought I would, thanks in part to my tempered expectations, but also the fact that this film is good old fashioned goofy fun. Zoolander 2 has an identity which is very clear throughout, and the return of Derek Zoolander and Hansel felt as smooth as you could hope for after 15 years. The majority of the original cast is back with a few welcomed additions, specifically Penelope Cruz, as well as a bunch of funny cameos. Zoolander 2 maintained the hilarious chemistry of the running joke between Zoolander and Hansel’s unfathomable stupidity and Mugatu’s (Will Ferrell) wit and ability to take advantage of their incredible ignorance.
Zoolander 2 feels boring at times and sometimes drags but the hour and a half runtime is far from excessive and I was thankful for that. The route Stiller and the other writers decided to take with Zoolander 2 is a bit of a double-edged sword in the sense that it will please fans of the first film but is unlikely to attract any newcomers. The sequel does up the ante a bit with the flash and visual appeal which is a nice addition.
Zoolander 2 is a very respectable sequel to a film that was very much a love it or hate it split for viewers back in 2001. It stays true to the unique brand of slapstick humor and manages to provide plenty of laughs. Zoolander 2 isn’t great but what matters is the simple fact that fans of the original will be happy they made a sequel. With that being said, do what I did and grab a Ziploc bag full of Skittles and a Rockstar energy drink and enjoy Zoolander 2 for what it was meant to be. Plus if watching Justin Bieber get shot 50 times by an Uzi is up your alley, that alone might be worth the price of admission.
