A fashion spoof draped over the bones of a puerile conspiracy adventure, this vanity comedy fails at every level barring its incidental details.
Zoolander (2001)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:10
Fresh:7
Rotten:3
Average Rating:6/10
Consensus: With Stiller and Wilson giving fun performances, Zoolander is one of those deliberately dumb comedies that actually delivers the laughs.
Runtime: 89 mins
Genre: Comedies
Synopsis: Derek Zoolander (Ben Stiller) isn't smart, but he looks "really, really good." An empty-headed yet kindhearted male model, the self-absorbed Derek becomes an unwitting pawn in a international... Derek Zoolander (Ben Stiller) isn't smart, but he looks "really, really good." An empty-headed yet kindhearted male model, the self-absorbed Derek becomes an unwitting pawn in a international assassination plot masterminded by oddball fashion dictator Jacobim Mugatu (Will Ferrell). Meanwhile, the clueless cover guy must also contend with a new rival, a blonde hipster named Hansel (Owen Wilson). Only adding to his troubles is Matilda Jeffries (Christine Taylor), an inquisitive and sensitive journalist. Stiller's charming and silly comedy liberally skewers the fashion industry while showcasing the actor-director-screenwriter's quirky humor. He casts his real-life family in the film: wife Christine Taylor, sister Amy Stiller, father Jerry Stiller, and mother Anne Meara. As a director, Stiller invokes entertaining performances from Wilson and Ferrell. He also adds cameos by a multitude of celebrities including David Bowie, Natalie Portman, and Lenny Kravitz. [More]
Starring: Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Will Ferrell, Christine Taylor
Starring: Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Will Ferrell, Christine Taylor, Jerry Stiller, Milla Jovovich, David Duchovny, Jon Voight, Vince Vaughn, Andy Dick
Director: Ben Stiller
Director: Ben Stiller
Screenwriter: Drake Sather, Ben Stiller, John Hamburg
Producer: Stuart Cornfeld, Scott Rudin, Ben Stiller
Composer: BT
Studio: Paramount Pictures
Reviews for Zoolander
It's patchy, but when it hits, Zoolander is as funny as any Frat Pack picture.
At times Zoolander threatens to disappear up its own catwalk, but it’s often very funny stuff.
It's patchy and occasionally irritating. However, it's also occasionally very funny.
Profoundly silly, this light and fluffy satire of the fashion industry targets for a change not the female but male models.
During its fleeting moments onscreen, the movie's lighthearted spirit and comic energy make for entertaining, escapist fare.
Finally points Stiller in the right satirical direction, even though his central topic could just as easily be skewered in 10 minutes.
If the Malaysians made a comedy about the assassination of the president of the United States because of his opposition to slavery, it would seem approximately as funny to us as Zoolander would seem to them.
Though basically an extended skit, Zoolander never runs out of amusing satiric thrusts.
Latest News for Zoolander
July 14, 2005:
Critical Consensus: "Chocolate," "Wedding" Both Sweet
This week's wide releases blend the sweet and the sour. Sweet, like the taste of chocolate or true love; sour, like unabashed excess or scoundrel-like behavior. Will critics... More...
August 20, 2001:
Stiller says he modeled his character after 'some weird kind of hybrid Jason Priestley-Luke Perry guy' he played in a parody on his short-lived series, The Ben Stiller Show. ![]()
More...
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