ZOOLANDER (2001) / ** 1/2
Directed by Ben Stiller. Screenplay by Drake Sather, Stiller, and John Hamburg, based on a story and a character created by Sather and Stiller. Starring Stiller, Owen Wilson, Christine Taylor. Running time: 90 minutes. Rated PG for mature theme by the MFCB. Reviewed on September 30th, 2001.
By SHANNON PATRICK SULLIVAN
Synopsis: Derek Zoolander (Stiller) is a male model in the twilight of his career who becomes brainwashed by fashion designer Mugatu (Will Ferrell). Mugatu wants Zoolander to assassinate the prime minister of Malaysia, who plans to introduce new child-labour laws which will cripple the fashion industry. Mugatu's scheme is uncovered by reporter Matilda Jeffries (Taylor), who convinces Zoolander to join forces with his archrival, up-and-comer Hansel (Wilson), to stop Mugatu before Zoolander's programming is activated.
Review: "Zoolander" will no doubt invite comparisons with the "Austin Powers" movies, since both title characters are image-conscious dolts embroiled in global conspiracies. But whereas Austin was a satire on the entire James Bond-style spy genre, Zoolander is just a pastiche on a specific profession: the male model, with the espionage elements grafted on rather arbitrarily. There is, therefore, comparatively less material to be mined in this release, but Stiller does a good job of working his premise for every last ounce of humour. As Zoolander, Stiller finds the right note somewhere between sympathetic dimwittedness and head-smacking stupidity. He matches up well with Wilson, whose performance here echoes his role in "Shanghai Noon"; his Aryan poster child, Hansel, exudes the right amount of brash confidence and, well, head-smacking stupidity. Taylor is more poorly served by the script, which provides her with little personality beyond "beautiful crusading reporter". And Ferrell is amusing -- and, fortunately, not overused -- as the fiendish Mugatu. Not all the jokes work, but there are flashes of brilliance, such as Derek's indignant reaction to the unveiling of a miniature school for underprivileged youngsters. And even when it's less than successful, the sheer vitality Stiller brings to "Zoolander" helps distinguish it from similar fare.
Copyright © 2001 Shannon Patrick Sullivan. Archived at The Popcorn Gallery, http://www.physics.mun.ca/~sps/movies.html
| Shannon Patrick Sullivan | shannon@mun.ca | +---------------------------------+---------------------------------+ / Doctor Who: A Brief History of Time (Travel) go.to/drwho-history \ \__ We are all in the gutter but some of us are looking at the stars __/
========== X-RAMR-ID: 29643 X-Language: en X-RT-ReviewID: 252383 X-RT-TitleID: 1110145 X-RT-SourceID: 886 X-RT-AuthorID: 1699 X-RT-RatingText: 2.5/4
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