Zoolander (2001)

Director:

Ben Stiller

Writers (WGA):

Drake Sather (character Derek Zoolander) &
Ben Stiller (character Derek Zoolander) ...

Release Date:

28 September 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

3% Body Fat. 1% Brain Activity.

Plot:

At the end of his career, a clueless fashion model is brainwashed to kill the Prime Minister of Malaysia.

Plot Keywords:

Fashion | Male Model | Malaysia | Time Magazine | Rival

Awards:

1 win & 9 nominations

Cast

Ben Stiller	...	Derek Zoolander
Owen Wilson	...	Hansel
Christine Taylor	...	Matilda Jeffries
Will Ferrell	...	Mugatu
Milla Jovovich	...	Katinka
Jerry Stiller	...	Maury Ballstein
David Duchovny	...	J.P. Prewitt
Jon Voight	...	Larry Zoolander
Judah Friedlander	...	Scrappy Zoolander
Nathan Lee Graham	...	Todd
Alexandre Manning	...	Brint (as Alexander Manning)
Asio Highsmith	...	Rufus
Alexander Skarsgård	...	Meekus
Donald Trump	...	Himself
Christian Slater	...	Himself

Also Known As:

Derek Zoolander (USA) (working title)
Zoolander (Germany)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 on appeal for sexual content and drug references.

Runtime:

89 min

Country:

USA | Australia | Germany

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R (original rating) | Singapore:(Banned) (original rating) | Singapore:NC-16 (re-rating) | USA:PG-13 (re-rating after appeal) | Portugal:M/12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M (original rating) | Australia:PG (TV rating) | Brazil:12 | Canada:14A (Alberta) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Canada:PG (British Columbia/Nova Scotia) | Finland:K-11 | France:U | Germany:12 | Iceland:L | Ireland:15 | Malaysia:(Banned) | Netherlands:MG6 | Norway:11 | Peru:14 | Philippines:PG-13 | Spain:13 | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | UK:12

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

MFP Munich Film Partners GmbH & Company I. Produktions KG

Trivia:

Just before Derek goes to the final fashion parade, he gives Hansel his mobile phone. Hansel tells him he'll hold it until he sees him again. This is very similar to the scene in Behind Enemy Lines (2001) where 'Owen Wilson''s character gives a letter to Gene Hackman to hold. He later gets the letter back in the helicopter when he gets rescued. Wilson was filming Behind Enemy Lines (2001) at the same time.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Mugatu is explaining to Derek why he wants him to campaign for him, Todd brings him a large coffee. Mugatu spits it out, with no foam mustache, and for a second a foam mustache appears. After Derek's surprised look, it disappears again.

Quotes:

[first lines]
(Announcer): And here in Malaysia, there is an almost overwhelming sense of euphoria as the newly-elected prome minister has given this nation a gift of hope promising to raise the substandard minimum wage and end child labor once and for all. Already considered a living saint he has become this small country's greatest hope for a thriving future in the new millennium.

Movie Connections:

References Born Free (1966)

Soundtrack:

Roll It Up

A Classic of the Idiot Genre

Since Zoolander was released, I think I can safely say that it's become one of the most popular dumb comedies of the past ten years (a decade that was all too saturated with dumb comedies). Maybe it's the tongue-in-cheek attitude, or the clever writing, or the fact that it's immensely quotable ("I'm pretty sure there's more to life than being really, really, ridiculously good looking"). But whatever it is, it makes for a terrifically fun movie.

Ben Stiller is Derek Zoolander, three-time male model of the year, whose brainpower never quite caught up to his really, really ridiculous good looks. After losing his title to up-and-coming model Hansel (he's so hot right now), played by a Zen-ed out Owen Wilson, and the death of three of his model friends in a tragic gasoline fight accident, he goes on a quest to find his purpose in life. Turns out, his purpose in life is as the face of Mugatu (Will Ferrel with the world's best hair)'s new Derelicte fashion campaign--or so he's led to believe.

The plot is not strong. The characters are not fleshed out. But Ben Stiller keeps Derek's stupidity hysterical instead of irritating, and the rest of the cast adds gimmick after gimmick to keep things running. (Come on, the coal mines of New Jersey? Tell me that's not funny.)