Zoolander
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Zoolander (2001) is a movie based on a pair of short films, produced and directed by Ben Stiller for the VH1 Fashion Awards television show in 1996. The short films, and the movie, feature a male model with below-average intelligence. The title role (Derek Zoolander) is played by Ben Stiller, and his agent is played by father Jerry Stiller. The movie also stars Stiller's wife, Christine Taylor.
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Plot summary
In Zoolander, the supremacy of Derek Zoolander as the world's top male-model is challenged by the up-and-coming Hansel (Owen Wilson), an acid-tripping, Great Spirit-worshiping throwback to the '60s. When his best friends are killed in a "freak gasoline-fight accident," Derek announces that he is retiring from the male modeling profession. He returns to the coal mines where his father and brothers work, but soon finds himself desperately out of place.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, Prime Minister Hassan of Malaysia is working on abolishing child labor in his country. The evil world-wide organization which is the fashion industry is determined to retain Malaysia as a major source of cheap labor, and is desperate to thwart the incumbent Prime Minister's election. Fashion mogul Mugatu (Will Ferrell) is assigned to train a dull male model to assassinate the Prime Minister.
Zoolander is also notable for a plethora of celebrity cameo appearances, including Lance Bass, Tyson Beckford, David Bowie, Andy Dick, Fred Durst, Fabio, Tom Ford, Cuba Gooding Jr., Lukas Haas, Tommy Hilfiger, Paris Hilton, Carmen Kass, Lil' Kim, Heidi Klum, Lenny Kravitz, Steve Kmetko, Natalie Portman, Frankie Rayder, Mark Ronson, Winona Ryder, Claudia Schiffer, Garry Shandling, Christian Slater, Stephen Dorff, Gavin Rossdale, Gwen Stefani, Donald Trump, Donatella Versace, Veronica Webb, Shavo Odadjian and Billy Zane.
Cast
- Ben Stiller - Derek Zoolander
- Owen Wilson - Hansel
- Christine Taylor - Matilda Jeffries
- Will Ferrell - Mugatu
- Milla Jovovich - Katinka
- Jerry Stiller - Maury Ballstein
- David Duchovny - J.P. Prewitt
- Jon Voight - Larry Zoolander
- Judah Friedlander - Scrappy Zoolander
- Vince Vaughn - Luke Zoolander (uncredited)
- Nathan Lee Graham - Todd
- Gregg Furuoka - Brint
- Michael Franklin - Rufus
- Matthew Ritchey - Meekus
Trivia
- Many members of the shock rock band Gwar make cameo appearances during the walk-off scene and are uncredited.
- The name of Will Ferrell's character, Mugatu, is a reference to the Mugato seen on the original Star Trek series.
Malaysia
The film was never shown in Malaysia, a country that figures prominently in the film, as it depicts the country as impoverished and dependent on sweatshops. Malaysia's censorship board deemed it "definitely unsuitable". [1] The only authenticity is when Zoolander speaks to Prime Minister Hassan in Malay.
The film was also banned in neighbouring Singapore, due to bilateral sensitivities and the movie's excessive drug use.
