by Jon Grilz

Created on: January 08, 2009

If there is one thing that we can learn from 2001s "Zoolander" it is that male models are dumb. If there is a second thing that we can learn from "Zoolander" it is that dumb people make for incredibly funny movie characters.

This is the story about top male model and fashion icon Derek Zoolander, played by Ben Stiller. Zoolander has stood on top of the male model profession for years and has no sense that it could all come to an end.

Enter Hansel, played by Owen Wilson. Hansel is the new kid on the block that has taken the fashion world by storm appearing on or in every magazine from High Times to Sports Illustrated. He is the heir-apparent of Zoolander's title.

Reporter Matilda Jeffries, played by Stiller's real life wife Christine Taylor, is doing an expose into the life of Zoolander and the male model profession in general. During which she becomes acquainted with legendary fashion designer Mugatu, played by Will Ferrell.

While following Zoolander for her Time Magazine cover story, Matilda witnesses the passing of the torch as Zoolander loses his title as Male Model of the Year to Hansel- though he thinks he wins and mistakenly starts his acceptance speech as the crowd sits in awe.

Zoolander is devastated. His world is crumbling and he doesn't know what to do. Even his manager Maury Ballstein, played by Stiller's real life father Jerry Stiller, is unable to convince Zoolander to stay in the industry following the death of his three model friends/roommates during a freak gasoline fight accident.

Matlida's magazine article has mocked Zoolander and made him a laughing stock. Zoolander's crisis of faith leads down a path of laughs so over the top that the cross that line from absurd to hilarious.

All the while, the sinister Mugatu has plans for Zoolander. Hoping to make Zoolander a pawn in a complex game of international subterfuge, a plan is set into motion to make him a patsy for an assassination of a political figure that threatens the very nature of fashion design.

Sound ridiculous? It is. So ridiculous that it is a riot to watch. Featuring celebrity cameos from John Voight, Vince Vaughn, David Duchovny, Milla Jovich. David Bowie and a dozen other celebrities- some of which playing themselves, Zoolander shows that powerful comedic performances can turn even the strangest and most pointless of subjects into a world of comic gold.

Stiller puts in a great performance as the dim-witted title character who is little more than "professionally good looking". His arrogance and ignorance is deplorable, but still endearing as he makes us so frustrated that we have to laugh.

Wilson turns in a great supporting performance as his modeling nemesis with a stupidity that is only slightly less than Zoolander's, but is made up for with millions of drug-deadened brain cells and an almost childlike, albeit horny, innocence.

Ferrell turns in one of his best performances as the overly eccentric Mugatu, the fashion-god with a mysterious past. With outfits beyond imagination and over the top bravado that could only be done this well by the likes of Ferrell, it is unfortunate that the entire movie isn't about Mugatu.

With catch-phrases galore and some of the most memorable comedic performances in a long time, it took the entire cast to make this movie what it was: brilliantly funny.

Warning: you may be dumber for watching this movie, but remember: ignorance is bliss.

4 out of 5 stars.

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