Posted: 09/30/2001

Zoolander

(2001)

by Christina M. Swosinski

Can a supermodel save the world and still look good?

Oh snap! I almost talked myself out of going to see the latest Ben Stiller flick. I am a huge Stiller fan, but the trailers left me shaking my head in doubt. I couldn’t see how this movie was going to be more than Ben Stiller staring blankly into the camera for ninety minutes. Shame on me for doubting Ben Stiller. If anyone can pull an unorthodox plot out of his, er…pants, it’s Ben.

Let’s get the technical stuff out of the way so we can get to the good stuff. Derek Zoolander (Ben Stiller) is a male supermodel riding out the down side of this career. The last straw comes for Derek as he loses out as VH1’s male model of the year to his competition, Hansel (Owen Wilson). When his three roommates lose their lives in a freak gasoline fight explosion, Derek decides that there may be more to life than just being “really, really good looking.” After a day of soul searching in the coal mines with his disapproving father (Jon Voight) and his even-sexy-covered-in-coal brother (Vince Vaughn), Derek accepts a deal from an “evil” fashion designer named Mugatu (Will Ferrell). While feeling that Mugatu is going to re-charge his career, Derek falls victim to a brainwashing plot in which he is programmed to assassinate the prime minister of Malaysia for Mugatu. Apparently, all assassinations in this country were masterminded by fashion moguls for profit and gain. In on the plot are Mugatu’s sidekick, Katinka (Milla Jovavich) and Derek’s agent, Maury Ballstein (Jerry Stiller). So, who saves Derek from finding out the real reason male models die before age thirty? None other than a nosy Time magazine reporter, Matilda, played by Stiller’s real-life bride, Christine Taylor.

I couldn’t even keep track of all the celebrities that made cameo appearances in this movie. Everyone from Andy Dick to Billy Zane to Natalie Portman, Fred Durst, Lance Bass and even David Bowie. David Duchovny also makes a pivotal revelation in the film. Every time there was a new scene, it seems there was another cameo by someone.

The real meat and potatoes of this movie are the one-liners and facial expressions of all the characters. If you grew up listening to corny groups like Wham! and Frankie Goes to Hollywood you can no doubt appreciate the 80s references. I think one of my favorite lines came from Owen Wilson as he challenges Ben Stiller to a “walk-off” to determine who is the hotter model. With a look of seriousness in his eyes, he stares Derek down and repeats the first line of the Cypress Hill song, Insane in the Membrane, “Hey, ese, don’t you know I’m loco?”

Ben Stiller did a fabulous job of portraying the vacuus Derek. His famous look, “cold blue steel,” is a look of constipation that will stay in my mind every time I see the cover of any fashion magazine. Who else but Ben Stiller can take a “look” and turn it into an entire movie? Taking on the role of co-writer, along with Drake Sather and John Hamburg, Stiller also directed and produced Zoolander. Quite a big risk, but Paramount and Stiller landed on their feet with this one. I will admit that I laughed pretty much for the entire film and we were still talking about it after we left the theater. Who can resist Will Ferrell dancing half naked in a hypnotizing dream sequence? Is there anything better than midget orgies and herbal tea? Oh snap! I don’t think so. I also bet you can’t guess by now what my very favorite line in the movie was. I can’t give it away. You’ll just have to see the movie for yourself. Lighten up and have some fun. Go see this move. Bring with you an Austin Powers state of mind and just RELAX!

Christina M. Swosinski is a writer and web developer living in Florida. She wants to be a supermodel spy someday.

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