I'm Not Laughing (Zoolander (DVD))

Member Name: SmilingBuddha

Product:	Zoolander (DVD)
Date:	17/07/09 (29 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Type of humour may appeal to some

Disadvantages: Stupid humour, Boring plot,

In a sentence, Zoolander is a comedy revolving around the fashion industry directed and starring Ben Stiller.

The cast is packed with one dimensional comedy actors: Ben Stiller, Will Ferrell and Owen Wilson all feature heavily. I presume they couldn't have squeezed Jack Black in anywhere.

Ben Stiller stars as the metrosexual and remarkably stupid male model, Derek Zoolander who has been manipulated by an evil fashionista to kill the Malaysian prime minister.

Will Ferrell is the said fashionista, who has been fitted with every fashion industry stereotype packed into one and Owen Wilson stars as Hansel, Zoolanders equally dimwitted rival.

The most telling thing about this film is how incredibly idiotic it all is. The dialogue especially. That said, there were a few lines - stupid lines - that made me chuckle but the stupid line to laugh ratio is very low. Far too low.

It might be hilarious if watched behind a cloud of noxious smoke and say, if that did happen to be your agenda then there are far better alternatives, the Harold and Kumar films especially.

I have no problem with stupid comedies, some Monty Python sketches were stupid but they made me laugh and this is where Zoolander falls down for me. It just didn't make me laugh at all. Now if I'm not laughing during a "stupid" comedy then it's completely failed in its purpose and as the plot is far from engaging it just turns into a downright boring film. I can imagine even a person who enjoyed this film forgetting it in a couple of weeks.

Now personally, I just think Stiller isn't a very funny guy. Honestly, I'd hate to see his stand up acts. A friend once described him to me as "the epitomy of being mildly amusing" and I agree with him because at best he makes me smile or chuckle, he can never manage to make me laugh out loud. Credit to him though for the "stupid" voice he puts on and I admit, I did chuckle at it a few times. It must have been quite hard for him to keep that exact same voice when filming every scene.

As a sidenote, having many relatives who are Malaysians and visited the country many times, I was disappointed by the portrayal of the country in this film due to its fictional depiction of Malaysia as impoverished and dependent on sweatshops. Unfortunately impressionable people - which will probably be the type of people watching this film - will swallow this misconception. Now I know how the people of Kazakhstan felt after Borat.

For some positive points, there is a little bit of intelligent fashion industry satire but it is buried under so much bilge that it's not worth it. And of course, humour is subjective so I'm sure this will appeal to somebody, somewhere.

I'm being generous and giving this film two stars, seeing as one star is the lowest rating available I want to reserve it for only the most repulsive cinematic bile which makes me want to gouge my eyes out. This was just dull.

Summary: Just too stupid.