Zoolander (2001)

The review praises the exuberant and insidiously funny satire that skewers the fashion world and celebrity culture, highlighting the deadpan humor, strong performances by Stiller and Wilson, and lively parody elements.

The critic praises the film as an unspeakably funny comedy that blends espionage satire with a blistering send-up of pop culture and the fashion industry. Stiller's direction is singled out for its seamless energy and stylish execution.

Zoolander takes affectionate pot-shots at the insane fashion industry in a broader, funnier way than Prêt-à-Porter, succeeding as a wacked-out farce that works on every level with sight gags, one-liners and deadpan delivery. It is one of the funniest and most likeable comedies of recent times, a cult in the making and the Spinal Tap of fashion.

Stiller's directorial debut is a mostly successful lunatic camp comedy anchored by its star, trading on the premise that male models are stupid with hit-and-miss dumb jokes and cameos. It dovetails Stiller perfectly with Wilson and is funny enough to deserve hit status like its cousin Austin Powers.

The critic finds it a one-joke movie but a funny one, praising its absurd jab at the male modeling profession and Will Ferrell's performance as Mugatu.

The critic finds the film lighthearted and entertaining escapist fare with comic energy, though it evaporates quickly and never rises above a clever TV skit. Praises the silly story, wacky characters, and Stiller's balancing act.

The film is described as an amiable but erratic send-up of the fashion industry that misses some comic targets yet succeeds through good-natured cheer and the appealing central relationship between the rival models.

The critic calls it a profoundly silly but sporadically entertaining goofy farce of the fashion industry, praising its colourful costumes, giddy set-pieces and numerous cameos while noting it feels stretched.

The critic finds the film's assassination plot targeting the Malaysian prime minister in poor taste, especially given real-world events, but notes some effective satirical points about the fashion industry and the extreme stupidity of the central character.

Stiller's Zoolander is a high-concept action-comedy that connects only sporadically with its satire, suffering from a shrill one-note performance and sloppy script; Owen Wilson provides the little comic spark.

The review gives a half-hearted welcome to the film as the first to reach UK screens after 9/11. It criticises the awkward parody of the New York fashion world despite the promising premise of a male model entangled in a conspiracy.

The critic finds the film a failed vanity comedy that stretches a thin premise into a puerile conspiracy adventure, with unfunny catwalk capers and unoriginal insights into the fashion world.

The critic finds the spoof of the fashion world obvious and the humor heavy-handed like bad SNL sketches. The political assassination plot and model rivalry fail to engage, with Stiller's performance and celebrity cameos not salvaging it.