Three movies open in wide release this weekend, and they are vastly different from each other: "Hearts in Atlantis" is a nostalgic and touching drama and "Don't Say a Word" is a thriller centered on a kidnapping. And then there is "Zoolander," a wacky, incredibly silly comedy from co-writer, director and star Ben Stiller.
Expanded from a sketch Stiller did for a VH1 awards show some years back, "Zoolander" is ideal escapist fare, which has never been more necessary than it is now. If you want to turn off your brain and laugh for 90 minutes, look no further.
Stiller has given himself a great character to play. Derek Zoolander is a true original. He's a male supermodel and three-time male model of the year. Basically, he's the king of the industry.
But he's also shallow, vain, self-absorbed and not exactly what you'd call smart. He lives in a loft with three other male supermodels. They spend all their time admiring themselves and couldn't care less about anyone else.
Derek's agent, Maury Ballstein (played by Stiller's father Jerry) is in cahoots with Jacobim Mugatu (Will Ferrell), who is the head of the fashion industry and owner of sweatshops around the world.
Mugatu needs a simpleton to carry out an assassination of the Prime Minister of Malaysia. Otherwise, new child labor laws are going to be passed that will hurt Mugatu. Zoolander is perfect for the job.
Trying to stop the assassination and protect Derek is Time magazine reporter Matilda Jeffries (Christine Taylor, Stiller's wife). She discovers the truth behind Mugatu and his sinister plot. But getting Derek to listen to you is not easy.
Later on, Derek partners up with his rival, young up-and-coming male supermodel Hansel (Owen Wilson). Hansel is a hippie daredevil with about as much intelligence as Derek. They get into frequent and hilarious heated verbal exchanges.
Not that the story makes much difference in this type of movie. All that matters is how funny it is. And "Zoolander" is often laugh-out-loud funny. As with most comedies, not all of the jokes succeed, and there are dull spots, but for the most part it works.
Off-screen friends Stiller and Wilson work extremely well together. They make a memorable comedic duo and really get into their roles, which must have been fun to play. Some of the things they say are absolutely priceless.
Ferrell is equally funny in a role that requires him to have one of the most outrageous hairstyles in cinematic history. Taylor's role isn't much and she has to play it straight, but she does all she can and gets a few solid laughs near the end.
There are also countless cameos scattered throughout the movie. Rather than give them away here, see how many you can spot yourself.
"Zoolander" is pure harmless fun. It's the rare case of a sketch that actually works at feature length. If you take it for what it is, you'll undoubtedly enjoy it.
Grade: B+
"Zoolander" opens at theatres everywhere on Fri., Sept. 28. Click here for showtimes
