Review: ZOOLANDER 2 is Stupid, Cameo-Filled Trip in All the Ways You'd Expect

Just in case you were worried that the 15 years between ZOOLANDER 2 and the original male model comedy would lessen the latter's wacky sense of humor, fear not, ZOOLANDER 2 is every bit as stupid as the original, and for fans of the first film, that might be enough to overcome the lack of originality in the sequel's extremely thin plot.

In the 15 years between films, the life of the world's top male model, Derek Zoolander (Ben Stiller), has taken a decidedly tragic turn. A series of unfortunate, but extremely Zoolander, events have led first to the death of his wife Matilda, played by Stiller's real-life wife Christine Taylor, and then to his son Derek Jr. being taken away from him. In addition, Zoolander's rival turned best friend, Hansel (Owen Wilson), blames Derek for a career-ending scar on his face.

So when each, living in his own self-imposed exile, is invited to return to the runway, they are shocked when they come face-to-face, but either out of genuine friendship, or of not having enough intelligence to remember why they were feuding in the first place, they quickly patch things up.

The "really, really, ridiculously good looking" pair are then recruited by Interpol's Global Fashion Division and Agent Melanie Valentina (Penélope Cruz) to get to the bottom of a string of murders in which the world's most attractive people are all killed while apparently recreating Zoolander's patented facial expression, Blue Steel; a plot point that leads to Justin Bieber's most inspiring work to date.

As Derek, Hansel, and Melanie investigate, a DA VINCI CODE-esque plot is discovered with Zoolander's arch-nemesis Jacobim Mugatu (Will Ferrell) at the center. With the help of his trusty assistant Todd (Broadway's Nathan Lee Graham), a nearly unrecognizable Kristen Wiig, a very young Fred Armisen, and obnoxious designer Don Atari (Kyle Mooney), Mugatu is seeking to extract revenge on Zoolander for landing him in Fashion Prison.

There are more than enough laughs to keep a ZOOLANDER fan entertained, and the constant barrage of bizarre and often hilarious cameos will keep you on your toes, but the whole never rises to the satiric brilliance of the first, which pre-dated, but accurately predicted, the selfie-obsessed, duckface generation. That being typed, I can't imagine that anyone paying money to see ZOOLANDER 2 expected much more than a brainless excuse to laugh at a bunch of idiots on screen for an hour and 40 minutes.

In addition to some great cameos from Ariana Grande, Susan Boyle, Susan Sarandon, John Malkovich, and Neil deGrasse Tyson, the movie has Sting, Billy Zane, Kiefer Sutherland, and Benedict Cumberbatch in extremely strange featured roles. Also, nearly everyone from the original movie returns for the sequel, even if it is briefly.

Much like the first film did in 2001, the sequel purposely lampoons themes of beauty, body image, and sexual identity prevalent in the fashion industry today. The script, by Stiller, John Hamburg, Nick Stoller, and Justin Theroux (who reprises his role from the original) doesn't always handle these issues well, and some of the jokes border on cringe-inducing.

As a whole, ZOOLANDER 2 is exactly what you would expect; it's stupid, it doesn't take itself too seriously, it has enough jokes to be worth the price of admission. However, it is never able to find the innovative edge that made the original one of the most enduring comedies of a generation. The first was not exactly a critical success, so if you were a fan of 2001's ZOOLANDER (which I was), you will probably get a kick out of ZOOLANDER 2 (which I did).

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Check out the trailer for ZOOLANDER 2:

ZOOLANDER 2 starring Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Penelope Cruz, Will Ferrell, Kristen Wiig, Benedict Cumberbatch, Sting, Billy Zane, Cyrus Arnold, and many, many more, is open nationwide now. ZOOLANDER 2 is rated PG13 for crude and sexual content, a scene of exaggerated violence, and brief strong language.

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Did ZOOLANDER 2 make the 15-year wait worth it for you? Let me know in the comments below, or on Twitter @BWWMatt. If you want to follow along with my "366 in 366" articles, you can check out #BWW366in366 on Twitter.

Banner Image:
Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, and Penelope Cruz. Photo Credit: Paramount Pictures

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