Zoolander 2, 2016.
Directed by Ben Stiller
Starring Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Penelope Cruz, Kristen Wiig, Will Ferrell
SYNOPSIS:
Derek and Hansel are lured into modelling again, in Rome, where they find themselves the target of a sinister conspiracy.
Going in to the cinema with low expectations can sometimes be brilliant, you can discover a film you thought you’d hate and open up your mind to something different – this is not the case with Zoolander 2. Zoolander 2 is an unnecessary sequel to the 2001 comedy that is packed full of so many cameos and recycled jokes that it’s 1 hour 40 minute run time feels like it drags on forever.
After his wife dies and his son is taken away from him, Derek Zoolander (Stiller) is now a recluse from the world. Hansel (Wilson) has suffered facial scarring and is hiding from the world with his orgy group. Lured to Rome by fashionista Alexanya Atoz (Wiig), Hansel and Derek are thrown into a murderous plot alongside Fashion Interpol agent Valentina (Cruz). There’s also Derek’s long lost son to find, Mugatu (Ferrell) to deal with and whole host of other plot threads that never come together.
Whilst the first Zoolander had quite a few laughs and a stupid but entertaining plot, this second outing some 15 years later offers nothing new for the audience. The jokes about Derek and Hansel being stupid come thick and fast, the satire on the fashion world is still there and perhaps even more abundantly then the first film – but ultimately the film just isn’t funny. The jokes about Derek and Hansel’s lack of intelligence are obvious and forced. It seems as if Stiller and Wilson are almost sleepwalking through their roles this time around.
That’s not to say that Zoolander 2 isn’t without some laughs, Kiefer Sutherland’s cameo as one of Hansel’s lovers is truly entertaining, as is Benedict Cumberbatch’s androgynous super model All, and the sight of Justin Bieber getting blasted by hundreds of gun shots is worth the ticket fee. It’s just a shame that in between these moments of brilliance, the rest of the film is so dull and predictable.
Zoolander 2 has fallen into the same trap as Anchorman 2. It was simply too little too late, and what worked so perfectly in a bizarre one-off film just couldn’t be replicated again. You don’t go in to see this film and expect to see great character development, but I just wanted something more with a bit more weight and substance behind it. Of the main cast, Cruz is the most entertaining as she seems to be having fun with a role with little substance but she gives 100% and embraces the stupidity.
One of the best things about the original Zoolander was the various cameos that cropped up throughout. For this outing it seems that the writers have realised that people liked that and have decided to put every single person in this film. From Willie Nelson to Katy Perry, Marc Jacobs, Anna Wintour, Olivia Munn, Susan Sarandon and Justin Bieber to name but a few; this film is packed with random guest appearances that do nothing for the plot and are rarely funny.
Zoolander 2 is rarely funny except for a few standout scenes. It took 15 years to get a sequel to the big screen and my question is, why bother?
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★
Helen Murdoch is a freelance writer – Follow me on Twitter
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Originally published February 23, 2016. Updated April 14, 2018.
