Zoolander

Date: 1st July 2010
Title: Zoolander
Director/Creator: Written and directed by Ben Stiller
Cultural perspective: American
Gender of creator/ Perspective: Male

Male model Derek Zoolander has won the Male Model of the Year award for three consecutive years in a row (Thanks to his signature looks Blue Steel, Ferrari and Le Tigra) thinks of himself as a bit of a legend and being "Ridiculously good looking" but when the hot and threatening newcomer, Hansel wins instead, Derek's friends and fellow male model room mates are all killed in a freak gasoline fight and a scathing article about him being "A model Idiot?" is published in a popular magazine, things aren’t looking too hopeful for Zoolander anymore. Defeated and resigned, he announces his retirement from the male model industry but when he is approached by the only fashion designer who hasn't yet hired him, Mugatu, Derek is persuaded to lead his new cutting edge fashion line "Derelicte". Little does simple minded Derek now, Mugatu has a hidden agenda to brainwash him to kill the prime minister of Malaysia and turn him into the ultimate assassin. Derek has to find a way to get out of this with the added handicap of not being an "Ambi-turner"- meaning he can't turn left. Along the way he befriends Hansel, Derek's former rival who took away his one chance to hang on to his already fading career, and Matilda, the reporter who damaged his reputation and ego beyond repair. The three of them work together and show that there is more to life than being really, really, ridiculously good looking and end up saving the day and getting Mugatu uncovered for the crazy loon he really is.

The main characters in this film are Derek Zoolander(played by Ben Stiller)who may have an empty head but has a full heart with his dream to one day start up a "Derek Zoolander Centre for Kids Who Can't Read Good And Wanna Learn To Do Other Stuff Good Too". Hansel (Owen Wilson), the new "thing" in the male modelling industry who says "I wasn't like every other kid, you know, who dreams about being an astronaut, I was always more interested in what bark was made out of on a tree. Richard Gere's a real hero of mine. Sting. Sting would be another person who's a hero. The music he's created over the years, I don't really listen to it, but the fact that he's making it, I respect that. I care desperately about what I do. Do I know what product I'm selling? No. Do I know what I'm doing today? No. But I'm here, and I'm gonna give it my best shot." Matilda (Chrisine Taylor), the ruthless and harsh reporter who later reveals she used to be the fat kid at school and Mugatu (Will Ferrel), the manipulative and somewhat insane fashion designer who Brainwashed Derek- "Hi Derek! My name's Little Cletus and I'm here to tell you a few things about child labour laws, ok? They're silly and outdated. Why back in the 30s, children as young as five could work as they pleased; from textile factories to iron smelts. Yippee! Hurray!”
I really liked all of these characters and thought that they really made this movie what unique and absolutely hilarious!

There were heaps of really funny and clever lines throughout the movie, the world of male models is portrayed as being very interesting and adventurous in this film. This film is one of my favourites because it's so silly and sarcastic, it's showing all these stereotypes of Models and people in the fashion business in an exaggerated and unserious way like they are mocking it and i think it's just a really fun movie to watch, right down to the amazing costume and makeup and to the star Cameo's of David Bowie, Donald Trump, Fabio, Gwen Stefani and heaps of others playing themselves. I also like the fact that Ben Stiller wrote, directed and acted in this film, it shows he doesn't take himself too seriously.

I would recommend this film to anyone who enjoys comedy! I absolutely loved this film exactly how it was and wouldn't change anything at all. I would say the target audience for this film was males and females of the ages of maybe 13 and up because some of the scenes would not be suitable for young audiences, also younger children wouldn't really appreciate the funny lines and would probably rather stick to films like Shrek anyway.