Zoolander 2 was one of the most anticipated comedies of the year. Being announced in an unconventional way during a Valentino show last year, and releasing great previews, teasers and trailers, everyone had very high expectations from the film.
However, after the release of the movie a few days ago, most people who saw it, as well as critics, were completely underwhelmed by it. And so were we.
The first Zoolander movie, released back in 2001, was such a funny and honest film that took on the fashion world with self-irony and wit that it became part of every fashionisto's culture. The Magnum, Mugatu and other elements became so popular and powerful in pop culture and especially in the fashion world, that they were mentioned even over a decade after the release of the film.
And so, it was expected for the producers of the movie to make a new Zoolander, as the fashion world was in a completely different state in 2016 than it was in 2001.
Despite there being so much new material they could have spoofed on, this movie was less of the same, as the creators of the second Zoolander relied on the things that worked in the first film and became iconic and exaggerated them so much that they took the whole movie into another world. And not in a good sense.
The plotline is quite washed; Derek and Hansel are modeling again and become part of an adventure that is very tense and sometimes quite dark. The intention behind the plot and the way the movie was constructed visually was probably to create a spoof of movies such as James Bond (either one of them) or Angels and Demons, mixed with sporting on the fashion world, but the result was what seemed to be a low-budget copy of these movies, with a few jokes here and there. The plot was so intense and sad, that at many times the jokes seemed to be inappropriate; we almost forgot that we were actually watching a comedy.
Moreover, the thin story and few jokes relied too much on celebrity cameos. From Anna Wintour to Marc Jacobs, many fashion world heavies took part in the movie. Of course we can see why: after the first part, which was so hilarious, it was easy to get people to be on board.
Another thing that threw the film away was that it had to do so little with fashion that we forgot what the whole premise of the movie was (male models and the fashion world). While the first film both mocked and celebrated the fashion industry, the second one seemed to be the result of a game of "how many celebrities can you convince to do gratuitous cameos in a movie?"
Because we like to keep things on a positive note, we can say that this movie was all about taking risks, which is what the fashion world is all about - it was a risk for the producers, for the singers and the fashion icons that were involved, but the result was not what they wanted. And that's OK. For some, there might be a second time, when they'll do better on the big screen, while others will stay with what they do best.
Fraquoh and Franchomme
P.S. We want to hear from you! What did you think of the film? Would you like to see a Zoolander 3? Share your feedback, questions or thoughts in the comments below! For more articles on style, fashion tips and cultural insights, you can subscribe to Attire Club via e-mail or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram!