I have to admit, I’ve always found the reaction to “Zoolander” a bit over-the-top. On the one hand it’s pretty funny and has a number of entertaining scenes, but it’s also not really all that great, either. It’s a peculiar character for Ben Stiller and that’s exactly why it works, not to mention his laser-focus dedication to the character (which also includes directing the movie) and it’s also refreshingly gentle-minded: The satirical send-ups of the fashion industry and male models aren’t hard-biting, which makes the whole thing go down smoothly. Will Ferrell is perfectly cast as Mugatu and seems to be having a great time, and his manic on-screen energy is infectious. Overall it’s pretty good, so if you go in with reasonable expectations you’ll do just fine.
Rating: ★★★ (out of 5)
