Zoolander (2001) [PG-13]

This movie is funnier than it has the right to be! If you have had any dealings with the modeling business, you will find it even funnier. A real family affair (his father, mother, sister, and wife are all in the movie), this is Ben Stiller as a really dumb fashion model who the bad guys brainwash into assassinating the Prime Minister of Malaysia! He also co-wrote and directed the movie.

Derek Zoolander is a male model with a series of special modeling faces (the joke is that although they have different names: "Blue Steel", "Le Tigre" and "Ferrari", they are all the same expression which is basically him staring into the camera as he sucks in his cheeks). Recently unseated as top model by Hansel (Owen Wilson), he is working on a new face, "Magnum." He is also very disturbed that no male model seems to live beyond the age of 30.

Will Ferrell is Mugatu, the villain. He dresses in bizarre outfits, with his ugly little dog wearing a doggy version of the same clothes. He is the owner of a fashion line, "Derelicte," described by Mugatu as "a fashion, a way of life inspired by the very homeless, the vagrants, the crack whores that make this wonderful city so unique."

I laughed hard throughout the movie, except for a strange orgy scene with Zoolander, Matilda (Christine Taylor, Stiller's wife), and Hansel. It's the only jarring note and is responsible for the PG-13 rating.

There are tons of celebrity cameos, so keep your eyes open for Cuba Gooding Jr., Winona Ryder, David Bowie, Donald Trump, Christian Slater, Natalie Portman, and many high fashion names.

There are some real standout moments: the walk-off between Zoolander and Hansel, the boys at the gas station having so much fun "washing" the car, Zoolander's inability to turn left, those funny faces of his, and those dog outfits. Yes, this is stupid funny, but it is funny!!!

DIRECTOR: Ben Stiller  CAST: Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Christine Taylor, Will Ferrell, Milla Jovovich, Jerry Stiller, David Duchovny, Jon Voight, Judah Friedlander.

AWARDS: 1 win and 9 nominations.