"Zoolander 2" not only confirms the popular consensus to the plague of the comedy sequel, but litters the appearances of so many celebrities along with it. That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed this film. Perhaps it was just the theater I saw it in or the internet worthy gibberish delivered so flamboyantly. Regardless, I enjoyed Ben Stiller's return to one of his most beloved characters and I believe it is worth the watch.
Following the fifteen year gap between both movies, Derek Zoolander comes back with partner Hansel to dominate the industry yet again. To their surprise, the post-modern chic that has enveloped the industry and they must learn to adapt. I think one of the finest points in this movie is the spontaneity and wealth of characters. The plot jumps around from being a comeback story to a spy thriller and I believe this versatility makes for a truly serendipitous comedy. Some greatly weird characters spawn from this story such as Don Atari (a retro-motivated bro played by Kyle Mooney), VIP (an extremely small fashion tech played by Fred Armisen), and Orgy (a gaggle of sexually obsessed characters ranging from an elf to a sumo wrestler). While the humor at times seems like ideas being thrown around at a writing table, I enjoyed the forward presence of awkwardness as a means of comedy. Others bash the movie for its uncomfortable line of humor and cringe-y situations and I fully embrace it. That is not to say that the humor is not crude or silly, because it is. However, the humor in this film makes for a timeless movie.
The first "Zoolander" was marred by the same harsh lines of criticism, but eventually came to be known as one of the great comedies at the turn of the millennium. "Zoolander" had taken the fashion industry to shame and "Zoolander 2" accomplishes this same goal in an era that has only gotten progressively more extravagant with its fashion. I believe "Zoolander 2", despite the absence of Drake Sather on the writing staff, maintains the integrity of the original film along with some apparent comedic differences. Performances and cameos surprised and delighted me as I watched the bizarre story of this film unfold and I think many moments (including the quintessential Justin Bieber death scene) are both memorable and hilarious. Ben Stiller has adapted to the present comedic atmosphere and delivered.
