Zoolander (2001)

Stiller's Zoolander is a high-concept action-comedy that connects only sporadically with its satire, suffering from a shrill one-note performance and sloppy script; Owen Wilson provides the little comic spark.

The critic finds the film a failed vanity comedy that stretches a thin premise into a puerile conspiracy adventure, with unfunny catwalk capers and unoriginal insights into the fashion world.

Stiller's directorial debut is a mostly successful lunatic camp comedy anchored by its star, trading on the premise that male models are stupid with hit-and-miss dumb jokes and cameos. It dovetails Stiller perfectly with Wilson and is funny enough to deserve hit status like its cousin Austin Powers.

The critic calls it a profoundly silly but sporadically entertaining goofy farce of the fashion industry, praising its colourful costumes, giddy set-pieces and numerous cameos while noting it feels stretched.

The review gives a half-hearted welcome to the film as the first to reach UK screens after 9/11. It criticises the awkward parody of the New York fashion world despite the promising premise of a male model entangled in a conspiracy.

The critic finds the film lighthearted and entertaining escapist fare with comic energy, though it evaporates quickly and never rises above a clever TV skit. Praises the silly story, wacky characters, and Stiller's balancing act.

The critic praises the film as an unspeakably funny comedy that blends espionage satire with a blistering send-up of pop culture and the fashion industry. Stiller's direction is singled out for its seamless energy and stylish execution.

Zoolander takes affectionate pot-shots at the insane fashion industry in a broader, funnier way than Prêt-à-Porter, succeeding as a wacked-out farce that works on every level with sight gags, one-liners and deadpan delivery. It is one of the funniest and most likeable comedies of recent times, a cult in the making and the Spinal Tap of fashion.

The critic finds the spoof of the fashion world obvious and the humor heavy-handed like bad SNL sketches. The political assassination plot and model rivalry fail to engage, with Stiller's performance and celebrity cameos not salvaging it.