Zoolander
The Players: An all-star ensemble including Ben Stiller (who also directs), Owen Wilson, Will Ferrell, Christine Taylor, Milla Jovovich, David Duchovny, Cuba Gooding Jr.
The Skinny: Lampooning the (male) modeling industry, Zoolander stars Stiller as Derek Zoolander, a shallow, conceited male supermodel who’s lost his top-billed status to his young and blond nemesis Hansel (Wilson). A powerful, nefarious fashion designer (Ferrell) who refused to work with Zoolander in the past suddenly calls a meeting with him at a day spa, where Zoolander is hypnotized by rogue CIA agent Katinka (Jovovich) into attempting to assassinate the president of Malaysia.
The Bottom Line: Stiller and his friend Drake Sather first dreamed up the Zoolander character for a skit on the 1996 VH1 Fashion Awards. The skit was expanded into a movie, and while in production, the script’s details were kept tightly under wraps. The movie stands to be more of the same of Stiller’s love-it-or-hate-it brand of comedy–sometimes his stuff tends to drag on, but moments of brilliance make up for the dull parts.
Opens: Sept. 28
