"Zoolander"
By Garrett Chaffin-Quiray

Born as a composite character lampooning male fashion culture for VH-1, Derek Zoolander is the kind of blank slate of innocence that presents filmmakers with endless possibility. He is at once too dense for everything while being distinctly unlike us so as to be the object of ridicule. Likewise he is not meant to bring up serious consideration of important subjects so his adventures are meant as straightforward entertainment.

Enter Ben Stiller as the embodiment and co-creator of Derek Zoolander and the director of one of the '90s great overlooked comic masterworks, The Cable Guy.

Flying high after three straight years being named the world's best male model, Derek loses his place in the sun to empty-headed and handsome upstart, Hansel, winningly played by Owen Wilson. His fall from grace, along with an unflattering story written by a reporter named Matilda (Christine Taylor), has caused idiotic Derek to question who he is and what he considers important.

Meanwhile the world's production of high fashion rests on the continued exploitation of child labor. Unfortunately Malaysia's leader intends to end the practice in his country. To end this threat, designer Jacobim Mugatu, played by the irrepressible Will Ferrell, is recruited by a shadowy group of fashion's biggest leaders.

Using Derek's manager Maury (Jerry Stiller) to manipulate him into starring in a runway show, Mugatu brainwashes the nearly brain dead star into assassinating the Malay leader. Fortunately for Malaysia, the conspiracy is uncovered by Matilda's derring-do.

After a number of enjoyable set pieces advancing the plot, Derek affirms himself as the greatest model in the world by foiling Mugatu's terrorist plot with a much-anticipated new look he calls simply, "Magnum."

With cameos by David Bowie, Fabio, Winona Ryder, Billy Zane and a host of others, not to ignore spot-on supporting performances by Vince Vaughn and Jon Voight as Derek's brother and father, respectively, Zoolander weaves an environment running in parallel to New York's fashion industry. With flashy colors, illogical fabric combinations, music video choreography and cartoon-like characterization, the film is a tapestry of knowing the world it represents by choosing to represent it foolishly.

In the end no one is harmed, bad taste is praised and the voyage of self-discovery becomes the object lesson of a beautiful simpleton like Derek Zoolander. His on-screen story may not be quite as funny as the print and TV advertisements for Heineken and Sky Vodka suggest, but his movie is dumb enough to keep you smiling yet smart enough to help you laugh out loud.