15 years after the events of the first movie, Derek Zoolander (Ben Stiller) is in hiding after his ‘Centre for Kids Who Can't Read Good and Who Wanna Learn to Do Other Stuff Good Too’ collapses, crushing his wife (Christine Taylor) to death and scarring his friend Hansel’s (Owen Wilson) face. Derek and Hansel are convinced by Billy Zane to return to the fashion industry after “the world’s most beautiful people” are being assassinated, all with Derek’s trademark looks on their faces. Interpol - Fashion Division agent and ex-swimsuit model Melanie Valentina (Penélope Cruz) is investigating the mysterious deaths, with some uncertain link to Rome. Unfortunately, the only man who can help is no longer so hot right now.
Stiller deals with the Canadian elephant in the room swiftly, killing off Bieber in the opening scene in a gratuitously long, extremely pleasing death that also serves to set up the mysterious plot that drags Zoolander out of hiding, encouraged to leave his snow covered retreat in the Alpine region of New Jersey by his good friend Billy Zane, one of many, many, many, many cameos in the second Zoolander. Much like the original, this film is stupid. It knows it’s stupid and the fans know it’s stupid. However it’s certainly not the first stupid American comedy to come out, so instead it tries to set itself apart from the others. Sadly though it seems to be living in the shadow of the first film - however small that shadow may be, and indeed one of the issues with 2oolander - as it's also know - is its constant references to the original film. Now I actually like Zoolander (the first one - I know this is confusing), however these references don’t serve to explain the first film to those who haven’t seen it. Instead they seem to be there purely as fan-service. Strike one.
One of the other major issues with the film is Penelope Cruz. Her character is bland, annoying, appallingly acted and seems to only be there as a sexual object for teenage boys to ogle over. Yes, this is a film that mocks superficiality and there’s a reason her character is in this but she could at least get some decent jokes like her vain male counterparts Derek and Hansel. Otherwise the acting overall is fine. This is a close-knit circle of comedic actors that are always able to deliver, but none of them really stand out. Will Ferrell reprises his role as Jacobim Mugatu, who is decidedly Will-Ferrellish and Kristen Wiig is unrecognisable as the floating pile of cologne Alexanya Atoz, one of the more memorable performances.
That isn’t to say that Zoolander No. 2 doesn’t have its good points. There are certainly plenty of chuckle-worthy moments throughout. It pays homage to a tonne of different movie tropes and farcically exaggerates them with several Bond-esque moments that could easily have been lifted straight from Austin Powers. The story in the original was certainly stronger, and you really can’t beat the petrol fight, but for a light comedy there’s certainly plenty of entertainment. However you can’t escape the somewhat formulaic similarities and rehashed jokes that make you question the creative incentive for a sequel here.
Zoolander 2 is a decently funny sequel to what could probably be considered a cult movie by now, and there’s reason enough for die-hard fans to fork out for this one. However the endless parade of cameos, idiotic jokes and reused story beats indicate that in time it will probably join the likes of Airplane II, Hangover Part II and Blues Brothers 2000 in the forgotten sequels club, destined to forever live in it’s older brother’s shadow.
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