Zoolander 2 review: Can Stiller’s second shot at the ridiculously good-looking male model break the curse of the belated sequel?
Zoolander 2 review
Comedy sequels are one of the trickiest things to pull off. They either come too soon and are too similar, such as The Hangover movies, or they come too late and feel very forced. Being 15 years since the original Zoolander hit screens it would be fair to assume that Zoolander 2 falls into the latter bracket. In some ways it arguably is, but it is also hysterical and completely bizarre.
We pick up 15 years from the last film and are quickly informed how Derek Zoolander’s (Ben Stiller) Centre For Kids Who Can’t Read Good collapsed soon after opening, killing his wife (Christine Taylor) and injuring his friend Hansel (Owen Wilson). With Zoolander and Hansel both in hiding the world’s pop-stars are dying with specific looks on their faces. Interpol Agent Valentina (Penelope Cruz) decides there is only one man who can help, however both Zoolander and Hansel have been recruited by the world’s current ruler of fashion Alexanya Atoz (Kristen Wiig).
Zoolander 2 review
As an excuse for jokes, Zoolander 2 has just enough of the wacky espionage elements paired with constant stupidity zingers from the lead duo. Unlike many other belated comedies where characters feel fake or out of touch, Zoolander 2 does an excellent job at keeping the chemistry between Stiller and Wilson alive. Unlike such films as Dumb and Dumber Too, the film may be set years later, but it feels exactly like the world of the original. Nobody is doing a parody of a character they perfected a decade and a half ago.
The humour is very similar, mostly reliant on misunderstandings due to stupidity and surreal digs at the fashion world. The film’s funniest element however is the excessive use of star cameos. That may sound like a minus, but each one is utilised in a bizarre and sometimes unsettling way. I wish I could spoil them, but the marketing has done so well at keeping them a secret that I won’t ruin the fun here. You’ll see some people showing up for a brief line or odd look, while others feed into the plot well.
Zoolander 2 review
New additions include Penelope Cruz who proves to be quite the comedic gem and will hopefully continue on this streak for Grimsby later in the year. Cyrus Arnold plays Derek Zoolander Jr. and I must admit to being concerned with the addition of a child actor but he holds his own and is often the hilarious voice of reason in this twisted world of fashion. Kristen Wiig seems to be the only wasted talent, acting as a placeholder until I guess Will Ferrell was available. She is a simple joke of too much botox and a weird accent. Ferrell meanwhile hits all the highpoints you would hope for and slips straight back into Mugatu’s skin.
Zoolander 2 is stupid, nonsensical, out there, and very funny. It’s everything I wanted from it. Many will forget that Zoolander was not that well regarded upon first release and had to develop a fanbase over time. The same may happen here with Zoolander 2. It doesn’t play it too safe, nor does it go for broke. A very fine sequel that had more than enough laughs and a refreshing lack of blatant repetition.
Zoolander 2 review by Luke Ryan Baldock, February 2016.
Zoolander 2 is released on 12th February.
