Published via Ecency

(source: tmdb.org)

Fortune can smile on a film and bring an unexpected success due to circumstances beyond authors’ control. Some critics like to cite Zoolander, 2001 comedy directed by Ben Stiller, as one such example. Its surprisingly good results at box office were often explained with 9/11 that had occurred two weeks before its premiere and American viewers in desperate need for light entertainment that would help them escape from new earth-shattering reality. That might be true, but Zoolander is a film that actually deserved success on its own merit.

The film is based on the character Stiller originally created and played in a comedy skit at VH1 Awards. That character, played by Stiller, is Derek Zoolander, popular but dimwitted and extremely vain fashion model. He has ruled world’s catwalks, but recently he has suffered setbacks in private and professional life – his blue-collar family from New Jersey rejects him, his best friends and room mates die in bizarre accident, Time publishes disparaging article written by reporter Matilda Jeffries (played by Christine Taylor) and, to make things even worse, his status of top fashion icon is threatened by rival model Hansel McDonald (played by Owen Wilson). At the same time fashion mogul Jacobim Mugatu (played by Will Ferrell) and Derek’s agent Maury Ballstein (played by Jerry Stiller) conspire to assassinate Prime Minister of Malaysia (played by Woodrow Assai) because his progressive laws against child labour threaten Mugatu’s bottom line. Derek is brainwashed and programmed into carrying assassination when he hears “Relax” by Frankie Goes to Hollywood during fashion show attended by Prime Minister. However, it is Matilda and Hansel who would ultimately help Derek unmask the conspiracy.

Ben Stiller, son of popular comedian Jerry Stiller (who appears with him the film), is an accomplished comedian of his own and he previously had successes both as actor (in There’s Something About Mary) and director (in The Cable Guy). While those works, to a degree, explored somewhat darker aspects of human character, Zoolander is much lighter and instead focuses on fashion’s industry, which becomes object of devastating satire and gets portrayed as the world of vanity, and ridiculously self-important shallow characters completely disconnected from the real world. While Stiller plays title character as typical representative of that milieu, he nevertheless manages to evoke audience’s sympathy. Zoolander even manages to remind audience of some real world issues usually ignored by Hollywood, in this case exploitation of children in impoverished Third World countries by large Western corporation. And the character of Malaysian Prime Minister makes the film closer to real world, because Mahathir Mohammad, its real life counterpart at the time, was known for his confrontational policy towards West and International Monetary Fund. But those details would mattered little to the audience that was more impressed by Stiller comic talent and ability to inject plenty of humour in his film. Stiller’s efforts wee helped by very diverse cast, ranging from over-the-top Will Ferrell as outrageous villain to Owen Wilson who develops good “buddy buddy” chemistry with Stiller. Christine Taylor in potentially thankless role of obligatory love interest provides a lot of charm and also has good chemistry with Stiller, who became her husband in real life. Zoolander became massive hit and the time was kind to it, making it as entertaining in later years as it was after 9/11. 2016 sequel Zoolander 2, however, failed to repeat success of the original film.

RATING: 7/10 (+++)