Zoolander 2

15 years ago, Derek Zoolander (Ben Stiller) was the most famous male model in the world. His looks were revolutionary and literally stunning. He could even stop ninja stars in flight with his Blue Steel look. But those days are long gone. Since a terrible disaster at a center he founded, Zoolander has completely retreated from the public eye. But now the world needs him more than ever. Because quite a few music stars have already been killed - and all of them died with Zoolander's Blue Steel look on their faces. When Derek and Hansel (Owen Wilson) are invited to a special fashion show in Italy in exchange for venturing back into the public eye, she tries to convince sexy Interpol agent Valentina (Penélope Cruz) to help her save the VIPs of the world. And it quickly turns out that an old enemy seems to have his fingers in the pie, even though he's been safely behind bars for many years: Mugatu (Will Ferrell)! But who is pulling his strings for him? And what is the goal of his diabolical plan?

Based on a character Ben Stiller created in 1996 for a small one-shot film for the VH1 Fashion Awards, the actor made a completely offbeat, brightly colored comedy about the modeling business in 2001 that quickly became a cult film. Nevertheless, it would take a full 15 years before Zoolander 2 was realized. And after all this time, you have to wonder if anyone was actually still waiting for this movie, and if what you threw yourself away over 15 years ago can still provide some really good laughs in 2016. Not wanting to take any chances, Ben Stiller simply recycled some of the most popular gags from Part 1 and packed the rest of the film so full of celebrity guest appearances, action and weird gags that it just has to work.

On the one hand, this is true - but on the other hand, it's also the film's biggest problem. There's no question about it: if you like quirky Zoolander humor, you'll get quite a few really good laughs. There are some ideas that are so wonderfully stupid that it's funny again (like Mugatu's escape from the fashion prison). But time and again there's the feeling that it's just too much of a good thing, that it's trying too hard to be even bigger, even funnier and even stupider than its predecessor. As a result, the production lacks the playful charm that distinguished Part 1. Whereas here most of the jokes were delightfully stupid, here many of the jokes are just plain stupid.

It is little wonder that the film divides audiences. Because the humor is just very specific. You have to have a penchant for extreme silliness to have fun here. But then Zoolander 2 still works really well despite some weaknesses. When actors like Kiefer Sutherland or Penélope Cruz are allowed to be really silly or when the identity of Hansel's father is clarified, Derek Zoolander and Co. have the laughs absolutely on their side. And Benedict Sherlock Cumberbatch's performance as the new supermodel borders on disturbing genius. But for an all-around positive overall impression, the mix of humorous bull's-eyes and raunchy misses is just too unbalanced. If you didn't like Part 1, you'll suffer here. Those who loved Part 1 will laugh a lot, but also be a little disappointed. And if you don't know Zoolander at all, you should definitely watch some clips on the internet beforehand to test out if you can laugh at this shrill comedy at all. From me as someone who had a lot of fun with part 1, there is for the sequel with small deductions a decent: Worth seeing

An article by Frankfurt-Tipp