After hearing there would be a sequel to the hilarious 2001 film “Zoolander,” I was eagerly looking forward to the release. I laughed at the trailers and the promotions and really thought the film would live up to the increasing hype. As I sat down in the theater with other excited “Zoolander” fans, I knew I was in for a treat.
The film hit the ground running with a strong and steady start explaining what had happened to Derek Zoolander, played by Ben Stiller, and Hansel, played by Owen Wilson, since 2001. Audiences also learned the fate of Zoolander’s wife Matilda, played by Stiller’s wife Christine Taylor, his son Derek Jr., played by actor Cyrus Arnold, and about the incarceration of fashion-genius Mugato, played by Will Ferrell.
However, after the opening scenes and the horrific murder of Justin Bieber, the film started to flop. Old jokes from the original film were reused and recycled in a way that just felt lazy. New fashion designer Don Atari, played by SNL cast member Kyle Mooney, felt entirely out of place. His character seems to be the representation of the stereotypical millennial, which pokes fun at a majority of the age group that makes up the “Zoolander” fan base.
In similar form to the original film, “Zoolander” thrives on the cameos that appear in the film. However, the sequel is made up of almost entirely cameos, which makes the film feel disjointed. Surprisingly enough, the cameo of Justin Bieber was probably the most successful and brought the most laughs from the audience. After Bieber was shot at least 30 times, he pulls out his phone, takes a selfie and spends his remaining time picking out the perfect Instagram filter before bleeding out.
The cameo I didn’t understand was Kiefer Sutherland, who plays one of Hansel’s orgy members living with him in the desert. The orgy members, which Hansel lovingly refers to as “orgy” the entire film, all manage to become impregnated by Hansel, including Sutherland. This causes Hansel to freak out and he runs away needing to “find himself,” but instead he reconnects with long-lost pal, Derek Zoolander. Other cameo members include Sting, Fred Armisen, Susan Boyle, Benedict Cumberbatch, Neil De Grasse Tyson, Katy Perry, Willie Nelson, Ariana Grande, Billy Zane, and many more.
Kristen Wiig, who plays Alexanya Atoz, looks unrecognizable with her eccentric outfits, thick and sometimes impossible to understand accent, and the copious amounts of plastic surgery her character has undergone. However, Wiig’s talent and ability to make people laugh is not stifled and she manages to get a few laughs throughout the film.
Penelope Cruz makes a startling appearance in this film playing the gorgeous, ex-swim suit model, and Interpol agent Valentina, who is quite literally, the fashion police. The problem with Cruz’s character is the misleading messages it sends. First she is seen as strong, independent, and an overall badass. However, that quickly turns into her becoming overtly sexualized to the point that Zoolander is required to hold her breasts for safety and flotation as she swims them back to shore.
Overall, I was hoping for so much more from the sequel of a film that I have always enjoyed and never failed to make me laugh. While the sequel had a few laughs, the overall feel of the film felt outdated and left me with a feeling of disappointment.