Zoolander 2 (2016) film review

Year: 2016
Running Time: 102 minutes
Director: Ben Stiller
Writers: Drake Sather (character), Ben Stiller (character and screenplay), Justin Theroux, Nicholas Stoller and John Hamburg (screenplay)
Cast: Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Penelope Cruz, Will Ferrell, Kristen Wiig, Cyrus Arnold, Christine Taylor, Billy Zane, Benedict Cumberbatch, Kiefer Sutherland

Zoolander 2 is perhaps not a completely unexpected disappointment. It was always to be a massive task recreating the success of the first film, especially when the sequel's screenwriters focused and tried too hard with the wrong elements, Instead of recreating the unique brand of humour displayed in the original film, Zoolander  2 is hardly funny and incredibly weak.

After years in a self inflicted exile, male model Derek Zoolander (Ben Stiller) comes out of hiding when he receives an invitation to make his comeback on the catwalk in Rome. He is reunited with his old friend, Hansel and the two discover that the world of fashion has changed a great deal. When they meet ex-swimsuit model, Valentina Valencia (Penelope Cruz), they find out that celebrities all around the world have been dying and using a past signature look of Derek's to communicate information regarding their killer. However, it all becomes personal when Derek finds out that his estranged son, Derek Jr. (Cyrus Arnold) is in great danger and he, Hansel and Valentina must find a way to save him.

There is no better way to describe Zoolander 2 than an absolute mess. It's screenplay is less of an actual story and more of a cluster of ridiculous one-liners and references to the 2001 film thrown together in no particular order. Ben Stiller and his co-writers, Justin Theroux, Nicholas Stoller and John Hamburg seem to have approached the writing of the Zoolander sequel in much the same way as most sequels are written, which is working with the elements that made the first film work. In this case, they got the idea of what worked in Zoolander completely wrong. Zoolander has become something of a cult classic because it was it was a satire of the modelling world that was clever and ridiculous at the same time.

There is nothing clever about Zoolander 2. The story is incredibly weak because the focus is more on making the film as funny as it can possibly be and this is the reason that the film is not funny at all. Every single piece of dialogue and every scenario is just designed to be funny and instead is just irritating. The sad thing is that there are actually some moments in the film that would be laugh out loud funny if audiences hadn't been inundated with other things significantly less funny around it. More than laughs, Zoolander 2 induces more eye rolls with the things it wants you to find funny, many of which are incredibly predictable such as Derek discovering his son is not male model material.

The entire concept of a satirical look at the modelling world does not have the same appeal as it did fifteen years ago when it was something unique with a creative screenplay. One cannot help but believe that Stiller just waited too long to make a Zoolander sequel and the concept does not work as well in 2016 as it did in 2001. Despite the introduction of new characters and even the world of fashion which Derek and Hansel exist in having changed with the times, the whole concept just feels tired.

What was once considered funny about Derek Zoolander and Hansel now just feels overtly exaggerated and much too ridiculous. Admittedly, the only two performances in the film which one does feel comfortable watching are Billy Zane's and Cyrus Arnold's, who plays Derek Jr. Zane plays himself and his presence actually gives an enjoyable start to the film, while Arnold plays a moody teenager. The two are unforced in their delivery and it is a welcome change to every other performance in the film (except for Christine Taylor as Matilda's ghost). Every other character in the film is so incredibly over the top and exaggerated to the point of irritation, especially Stiller's Derek Zoolander who proves that exaggerating a character who was successful the first time round doesn't work.

Zoolander 2 is a film that should never have existed. The original film should have been allowed to remain a stand alone film and the name Derek Zoolander be met with fond memories. However, Zoolander 2 proves once again that the sequel is never as good as the first and lightening does not strike in the same place twice.

2/10

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)

Year: 2013
Running Time: 114 minutes
Director: Ben Stiller
Writers: James Thurber (based on short story by), Steve Conrad (screenplay)
Cast: Ben Stiller, Kristen Wiig, Sean Penn, Adam Scott, Kathryn Hahn, Patton Oswalt, Shirley Maclaine

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty will be released in Australian cinemas on Boxing Day and is distributed by 20th Century Fox. To be released in the USA on Christmas Day and the UK also on Boxing Day.

Sometimes what we all need is a piece of cinema that allows us to be taken on an uplifting journey away from our everyday life. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is absolutely that.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty celebrates the idea of film as an escape. The lead character of Walter Mitty is not the only one who goes on a journey, as he takes everyone in the audience away with him. It reinforces the idea that regular people can do extraordinary things, even if those extraordinary things aren't quite as farfetched as what we see in the film. These incredible things are enhanced by some magnificent cinematography and the direction of Ben Stiller, who has no problem successfully directing himself.

Walter Mitty (Ben Stiller), an introvert who often zones out into his own world much to the confusion of those around him, is a worker at LIFE magazine, where the object of his affection, Cheryl Melhoff (Kristen Wiig) also works and is oblivious to Walter's feelings for her. When LIFE is taken over and there is only to be one more printed issue, everybody's job is threatened. Walter soon realises that the photo that his new arrogant boss, Ted Hendricks (Adam Scott) wants on the last cover has gone missing and the only way of replacing that photo is to find the photographer, Sean O'Connell (Sean Penn). This is the start of the greatest adventure Walter has ever had and is more wonderful than anything he has experienced in his wildest daydreams.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty truly is a joy to behold on the screen. The message it carries about ordinary people being able to do extraordinary things if they take the chance is inspirational and exactly what many people need to hear when starting the new year. While the message may be relevant, Walter Mitty's adventures are a little too extraordinary and the idea of realism needs to be pushed aside for awhile. It does tend to border on the edge of being a little too farfetched and this leads to a feeling of ridiculousness otherwise. There are moments at the beginning of the film where you really start to get However, it is the fantasy aspect of the film that makes this film feel refreshing and sweetly uplifting.

The cinematography is truly beautiful, particularly in the scenes set while Walter is travelling. The landscape shots of Greenland, Iceland and Afghanistan are breathtaking. The scene in Iceland outside the Papa Johns (of all places) with Walter on the phone is an incredible scene visually. It is the type of incredible scene that makes you feel as though you are really there and feeling the chill in the air, but also the peace and serenity of the location. Also, when in the LIFE offices and having the magazine's motto positioned above Walter with perfect timing is a unique touch to the film, but one which works and rides home the aim of the film to inspire. The musical score and soundtrack is also perfectly fitted to the film and enhances many great moments in the film, such as when Walter is about to get in the helicopter and Kristen Wiig's Cheryl is singing "Major Tom" to him.

Ben Stiller has absolutely no problems directing himself. He has done a wonderful job directing this film as it is nothing like anything he has done before and is a great success. Stiller is wonderful as the lead in this film. It is unlike his usual brand of comedy, but his comedic subtlety in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is quite beautiful.

Kristen Wiig does well as Cheryl Melhoff and is endearing in the scenes in which she is in with Stiller. Shirley MacLaine is also very good as Walter's mother, Edna and Kathryn Hahn is good fun as his sister, Odessa. Although he is the bad guy, Adam Scott is also great fun. He is so arrogant and such a horrible new boss that he is actually quite entertaining. Sean Penn doesn't have much to work with in the scenes which he is in, but he is a strong presence whenever on screen, which is exactly what his character is supposed to be. Patton Oswalt also has a very small part, but is great fun whenever his voice is heard and whenever he is seen on screen.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is a beautiful piece of work and reinforces that wonderful idea that cinema is an escape, because that it certainly is in this film.

8.5/10