Has Zoolander 2 been proved enjoyable enough as it was expected?

What is the best thing about Zoolander 2, you ask? Well, it’s really quite simple; you should not have to go to a movie theatre to experience this rather annoying movie. Perhaps this is me showing more than a hint of biasness when I say that it almost feels like all of Ben Stiller’s movies are designed to irritate and induce sleep rather than amuse and entertain. I do know for a fact that there are those who like him and his films, so let’s talk about this movie from a neutral perspective.

Zoolander 2 is the sequel to the 2001 instalment by the same name and they have gone on to make it feel like a complete sequel. By this I mean that the original film is referenced a lot in this one. If anything, that is a buzz kill. The humour is a bit dated to say the least. Many, many, many aspiring filmmakers out there today will watch this one and wish they had been afforded its budget and they would go on to make a much better film (in whatever genre).

When I read those last two paragraphs back I realize that the neutrality I had promised has long since gone out the window. Still, I am trying my hardest not to say something mean about this film.

Zoolander, the original instalment, was funny. It shouldn’t have been funny, but it was. It brought to light the culture of the 1990s—a culture that, in 2001, was obviously on its way out. That was the good thing about the original Zoolander film. That was a film made in the era that ended the 1990s for the era that ended the 1990s.

First of all, the second film was co-written and directed by, and stars Ben Stiller. Yes, that does happen, but it shouldn’t have to. Anyway, that is not what is wrong with this movie. What is wrong with this movie is that it is basically about the 1990s and very early 2000s.It is a movie that has been made for a 2001 audience, rather than a 2016 audience. The same people who saw it in 2001 probably want to see the follow up this year. But those people have undergone 15 years of transformation. Ben Stiller, by the looks of it, has not.

But enough ranting. This film isn’t all bad. Some of it is actually up-to-date. Some of the film has observations that pertain to this decade. Many other jokes will make you flinch or create a bit of an awkward moment or will just bore you to death.

Ben Stiller and Penelope Cruz in Zoolander 2

This film does have some good points about the world of fashion that it makes fun of, but I guess that’s about all it’s (sort of) good for.

There are appearances by fashion icons such as Valentino and Vera Wang, but there are literally no good jokes about them. There are also celebrity appearances but again, there is nothing of note about said appearances.

If I’m a lecturer in a filmmaking institution, I am instructing my class to watch this film and think of all the things you could do better with half its budget. If you value time and money, I suggest seeing any other film.