There's always a strange feeling of duality that comes from watching a sequel to a film you love. On one hand, it's always nice to see characters you know and care about continue their stories. But on the other, you risk having not only your opinion of the first film, but of the series changed in the case of a particularly bad sequel. While sequels can spread the influence of a universe to different generations, there's always the risk of a bust. For every Shrek 2 there is a Secret of Nimh 2- it's a vicious cycle filmmakers are hard-pressed to break. But what happens when you take a film that comes off exclusively as a product of the fads of it's time, and make a sequel more than ten years later? You wind up with the dated fusing with the new in a bizarre amalgamation called Zoolander 2.
As we all know, the original Zoolander was a product of it's time more than anything else. A satirical look at the men's fashion industry, it told the tale of Derek Zoolander and his fall from grace in the men's fashion industry. Having lost much of his former glory, Derek was signed on to an ordinary fashion show that doubled as a plot to assassinate the Prime Minister of Malaysia- and in the process of preventing his death, Derek gained friends, a lover, and a son. He's even gotten into a new business with the Derek Zoolander Center for Kids Who Can't Read Good (And Wanna Learn to do Other Stuff Good Too). With an ending like that, how exactly do you continue the story? Unfortunately, by ripping everything from the poor man's hands in one catastrophic series of events.
These events take place directly after the ending of Zoolander 1, and quickly work to tear down the progress of the first film: Derek's institute has crumbled into the sea, and his wife was a casualty of the incident. His best friend Hansel has been severely burned and now must wear a mask to hide his grotesque mark. Derek's son has been taken away by Child Services, and with nothing left, Derek himself has retired into the mountains and away from modeling forever. But when an unusual invitation brings Derek and Hansel to Rome for a fashion show, which happens to be the same city Derek's son is being raised in, the two male models must come to terms with their relationship issues and their pasts if they want to make their big comeback. But a new relationship for Derek, the worry of fatherhood for Hansel (from all 12 members of his orgy- including a sumo wrestler and Keifer Sutherland) and many other issues, it's going to be harder than it looks.
The original Zoolander wasn't exactly an all-time classic- as I mentioned, many of the references and jokes are products of the male fashion boom at the time and wouldn't make as much sense in later eras- and Zoolander 2 follows suit, with references to popular musicians and services. Justin Bieber gets axed off in the first few minutes. The crew is advised on their journey by Sting. MC Hammer has been jailed for his taste in pants. The list goes on and on. For all it's references it still has the spirit of the original, which is nice, but the modern atmoshpere just isn't the best place for poor Derek.
6/10
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All is done!
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