'Zoolander 2' Review

I'm a tad late with this review as last week I went to see Deadpool but I got around to seeing the follow up to Zoolander and it's a sequel that was really ridiculously pointless. Zoolander 2 has fleeting glimpses of the funniest moments of the original and while I'll admit I chuckled a few times, the humor is severely lacking throughout, as a majority of the humor was showcased in the promotional material for the film. The film amounts to a grab-bag of random tongue and cheek celebrity cameos that are reminiscent of the fight scene from Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues. The saddest thing about all of this is that you can tell effort is being made both in front of and behind the camera that results in a very muddled comedy. A majority of the original cast is back and ultimately just do the exact same thing as the original, and the lack of original comedy is exactly what makes this film so "la-me" as Derek Zoolander says in the film. Ben Stiller brings the dumbfounded male model back once again and is a little too comfortable in the role this time around. The same can be said for the other returning cast members, Owen Wilson as Hansel and Will Ferrell as Mugatu, who both fall right back into the ridiculous tropes of their respective characters. Penélope Cruz joins the cast with a smaller role but is serviceable for the character written for the film. Kristen Wiig is just plain weird as Alexanya Atoz, another mockery of the fashion industry. In summary, the film aims to be even funnier than it's original but ultimately shows signs of trying a bit too hard. If you are expecting Zoolander 2 to be just as good or even better than Zoolander, I'm telling you now that you are going to be very disappointed. I rarely discourage people from seeing a film in theaters, but sadly that's the case with Zoolander 2. 

Film Assessment: F

Throwback Thursday Review: 'Zoolander'

This week I'm reviewing Zoolander ahead of its sequel's release next weekend since it opens up against Deadpool and wanted to review Throwback Thursday Reviews related to both films. So next week, will be the second anniversary of this blog and I will publish a post specially for that looking back at the past of Film Assessment as well as looking forward to the future. Sorry for the delayed review, as I sometimes have difficulty reviewing comedies as there isn't as much substance to discuss.

'Zoolander' Review

Zoolander is a comedy about an evil fashion designer's villainous plot involves brainwashing a incompetent male model to assassinate the new Prime Minister of Malaysia, who is in opposition to child labor threatening the fashion industry. Zoolander nails it's satire and ridiculous premise. Ben Stiller directs and stars as Derek Zoolander, perfectly encapsulating the personality of the moronic model as the heart and soul of the film. The character of Derek Zoolander gives the film shoulders to stand on as the lead character who will leave you laughing with his two dumbfounded, indistinguishable looks and his charm, coming from his stupidity. Christine Taylor stars opposite Stiller as a journalist digging for dirt on Mugatu, the aforementioned fashion designer, and is effective for the film as a love interest and helping to drive home some of the humor. Owen Wilson plays Zoolander's rival, Hansel, who pairs well with Stiller as well as against him for some effective comedic bits. Will Ferrell gleefully portrays the film's absurd antagonist, Mugatu, and his over the top demeanor allows for some moments that will certainly leave you laughing. Overall, Zoolander is an enjoyable comedy that holds up to repetitive viewing with some great jokes, effective use of whacky celebrity cameos, and I'd certainly recommend it to anyone that could use a good laugh.

Film Assessment: B-