Film Review: ‘Zoolander 2’ Continues Silly, Surreal Hilarity

CHICAGO – Humor is subject to the receiver, of course, and what is funny is as distinct to each individual as a fingerprint. Having said that, I found “Zoolander 2” to be hilarious, as it delivered again what made the first film work – tweaking the self-importance of fashion and celebrity.

Rating: 4.0/5.0

Ben Stiller is back as Derek Zoolander, the world’s greatest male model, and like the first film he is also the director. The plot has more of a James Bond feel, and is set in Rome. The film also takes awhile to get into gear – the set-up is a bit weary – but once it breaks out the silly and the surreal idiocy that characterized the first film, the laughs start coming. It’s impossible to define why such antics contain such mirth, but any film that features science star Neil deGrasse Tyson and Kiefer Sutherland in odd cameos can’t be all bad.

The story picks up where the first film left off. Derek Zoolander (Ben Stiller) had just built the Center for Kids Who Can’t Read Good, but the materials to build it proved unstable (instead of concrete, they used rubber cement). The building collapses on rival male model Hanzel (Owen Wilson) and kills Zoolander’s wife Matilda (Christine Taylor). Both Zoolander and a disfigured Hanzel go into hiding, and Zoolander’s son is taken away from him.

Fast forward 15 years. A new fashion guru named Alexanya Atoz (Kristen Wiig) wants Zoolander and Hanzel to make a comeback in Rome. Meanwhile, the agency Interpol (Fashion Division) is investigating the deaths of various pop and rock stars. Head agent Valentina (Penelope Cruz) suspects a connection to the two male models, and recruits them into the case. Zoolander only agrees if it means finding his son (Cyrus Arnold).

“Zoolander 2” opens everywhere on February 12th. Featuring Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Penelope Cruz, Kristen Wiig, Benedict Cumberbatch, Will Ferrell, Justin Theroux, Billy Zane and Sting. Written by Ben Stiller, Justin Theroux, Nicholas Stoller and John Hamburg.. Directed by Ben Stiller. Rated “PG-13”