ZOOLANDER 2
US, 2016, 102 minutes, Colour.
Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Penelope Cruz, Will Ferrell, Benedict Cumberbatch, Justin Theroux, Kristin Wiig, Milla Jovovich, Olivia Munn, Christine Taylor, Susan Sarandon, Billy Zane, Justin Bieber, Kiefer Sutherland, Jerry Stiller, John Malkovich, Cyrus Arnold, Anna Wintour, Lenny Kravitz, Naomi Campbell, Sting, Kate Moss, Lewis Hamilton, Susan Boyle, Tommy Hilfiger, Matt Lauer.
Directed by Ben Stiller.
A lot of people found Zoolander very funny in 2001 – and a number did not, thinking that it was a rather silly spoof. It is surprising to find that it is 15 years between the original and the sequel, which a number of people have found very funny in 2016 and a number have not, thinking it was a rather silly spoof.
This review comes down more in favour of funny than silly, though it certainly is very silly at times.
Ben Stiller and his friend Owen Wilson created the characters, Zoolander and Hansel, male models. Derek Zoolander was a dumb character famous for his facial poses, especially Blue Steel, which Ben Stiller capitalises on here. In the past, the couple got into quite a number of tangles, especially through their dastardly and jealous competitor, Mugatu, Will Ferrell.
Now, in In 2016, Derek is living in the vast and snowbound North New Jersey, morning his dead wife and the son who has disappeared, while Hansel seems exiled with his harem (something of a United Nations group) in the vast dunes of Malibu. Although their foe, Mugatu, is in prison, he has the models in his sights and has a scheme to abduct Zoolander’s son from his Italian boarding school. In the meantime, a number of models are being found murdered, faces contorted by Blue Steel poses – the film being introduced amusingly by Justin Bieber being chased through the streets of Rome and his death mask as Blue Steel. Enter the Interpol fashion police force in the person Penelope Cruz who teams up with pair when they arrive in Rome.
What follows is a mixture of police drama and chases, stupid activities by the models, the transformation of Zoolander’s son who becomes something of a target because he is believed to be the fountain of life.
If you are able to accept this kind of nonsense, and that is the nature of the film, there is much to amuse. and, in the meantime, an overload of guest stars provide entertaining cameos – with Billy Zane and Kiefer Sutherland playing more significant roles, and especially one at Rome airport with the paparazzi greeting Susan Boyle, the surprise performance by Benedict Cumberbatch, with actors wandering in and out like Willie Nelson or John Malkovich, and sports personalities like Lewis Hamilton and fashion personalities like Anna Wintour becoming involved.
It certainly won’t remain in the memory but, for its time on screen, there is quite an amount of amusement.
1. The popularity of the original film, characters? A film of 2001, the beginning of a new century? The comedy, spoofs? The many years before the sequel? Continuing the story, the absence from fashion over the years, the new generation of models, the continued spoof of fashion? The fashion world, comedy, and the thriller elements of the film?
2. The cast continuing, Ben Stiller as Derek, Owen Wilson as Hansel, Will Ferrell as Magutu? The range of guests stars and cameos, the effect? Derek and his being in the frozen north of New Jersey? Hansel and the deserts of Malibu? Derek and the loss of his child, the death of his wife, the plan for the building and its collapse? Hansel and his multinational group and harem, The Orgy? Magutu in prison? The introduction of Penelope Cruz, Interpol, fashion department? Billy Zane as himself, the visit to each of the men, arguing that they should make a comeback? Kiefer Sutherland as himself, as part of The Orgy group, their all being pregnant? Guests from the world of fashion, especially the final confrontation, sports figures, stars, the effect? Kristin Wiig in disguise?
3. The prologue, the pursuit through Rome, the cars, the chase, the Instagram and the photo of Facebook – and the spoof with Justin Bieber? Billy Zane, his search, urging each of the two to return? Their meeting, Hansel and his being upset by his scar, removing the iron mask, the minimal scratch? The clashing, yet deciding to be together, capitalising on their fame?
4. Italy, Interpol, Penelope Cruz, staff, the murders of all the popstars? All with Derek’s look? Discovering that both were in Italy – and the airport sequence, thinking they were celebrities? And everybody wanting to photograph Susan Boyle?
5. The fashion expert, wanting her own company, Kristin Wiig week in disguise? The link with Magutu in prison? The jokes?
6. Going to the school, Derek trying to find his son, picking the wrong one, the fat boy? The games? The discussions with the headmaster – and the joke with Justin Theroux, one of the writers of the screenplay? The plans, Derek and the son, going out, enjoying things together, the son giving up, hating his father? His being abducted?
7. Meeting the new generation, the personalities, the enthusiasm? The cameo by Benedict Cumberbatch as All, transsexual, multi-sexual, the extravagant performance? The two being poked fun at – and their labels, old and the mispronunciation of lame?
8. Magutu in prison, the years, Derek visiting, Magutu exploiting psychology and Derek getting everything wrong? Magutu, his escape, shedding his skin, his hair emerging? The plot?
9. Penelope Cruz, the collaboration with Derek, her back story, model, swimsuits, swimming back to Rome?
10. The son, the rescue, the changed attitude?
11. The romance between Ben Stiller and Penelope Cruz? The Orgy group and their all being pregnant, children?
12. The comeback, having the look or not, wanting to stop the weapons – but failing?
13. The issue of the fountain of youth, the boy being the fountain, the discussions with Sting, his explanations? The truth?
14. The confrontation with Magutu, his defeat?
15. Happily family, altogether and a new child?
16. Everybody joining in with the song and dance the final credits?
17. An entertaining spoof?
