ZOOLANDER NO. 2
Released by Paramount Pictures
Reviewed by Adam Mast
ZOOLANDER NO. 2– formally 2OOLANDER, formally ZOOLANDER 2– is the highly anticipated sequel we’ve all been waiting for. A follow-up to 2001’s monumentally important, ZOOLANDER. That first picture touched on extremely relevant world issues. In the 15 years since its release, the world has become far more complicated, but one of life’s big mysteries remains the same and ZOOLANDER NO. 2 isn’t afraid to explore it: What’s the difference between “Magnum” and “Blue Steel?”
As ZOOLANDER NO. 2 begins, it’s clear that the years haven’t been kind to everyone’s favorite clueless fashion guru. Following a tragic mishap involving his wife and the unfortunate disfiguring of fellow supermodel Hansel (Owen Wilson), Derek Zoolander has banished himself from society. A wake-up call from Billy Zane, however, brings Zoolander out of his self-imposed exile and sends him on a mission that will unite him with the likes of Hansel (who’s on a profound journey of self discovery himself), his estranged son (Cyrus Arnold), a gorgeous field agent (Penolope Cruz), a creepy fashion diva (unrecognizable Kristen Wiig), and imprisoned criminal mastermind Mugatu (a hilarious Will Ferrell).
The first ZOOLANDER didn’t exactly set the box-office ablaze but through the years, home video and cable viewings have elevated it to near cult status. Enough so that star, co-writer, and director Ben Stiller decided it was time to dust nitwit Derek Zoolander and friends off and bring them back to the big screen runway. Truth be told, it’s hard to fathom how a fan of the first ZOOLANDER wouldn’t at least moderately enjoy this one because it’s essentially more of the same. Sillier gags and 20 times more cameos. So many cameos in fact, that it would be a huge disservice to the viewer to spoil them all in this review. Just to offer up a taste though, Kiefer Sutherland and Benedict Cumberbatch emerge as standouts.
As written by Stiller, Just Theroux, Nicholas Stoller, and John Hamburg, ZOOLANDER NO. 2 even manages to offer up a little bit of heart. Be it the connection between father and son, the bromance between Derek and Hansel, and the subsequent journeys of self discovery, this sequel has a genuine affection for its supremely idiotic characters. Mostly though, ZOOLANDER NO. 2 is goofy as all get out, and that’s really what the fans have come to expect.
Look, even by ridiculously dumb comedy standards, ZOOLANDER NO. 2 isn’t exactly high art. It’s a sequel akin to something like “Austin Powers in Goldmember.” It’s relentlessly stupid but completely consistent in it’s silliness.
ZOOLANDER NO. 2 can’t hold a candle to Stiller’s true comical masterpiece, the blazingly hilarious Hollywood satire TROPIC THUNDER, but it offers up enough hearty laughs to make it worthy of a mild recommendation, particularly if you’re a fan of the first picture. Besides, who in their right mind is going to trash talk a movie that has the courage to off Justin Bieber in the first 5 minutes. Not I.
