Ben Stiller takes his Derek Zoolander character created in the late 90's for television and VH-1 fashion awards shows to the big screen in this hilarious take off of the fashion industry. The film is just plain silly with lots of laughs. Helping Stiller out are his father, Jerry Stiller, Owen Wilson as his rival male model Hansel, Christine Taylor as a fashion reporter for Time Magazine, and Will Ferrell as Mugatu, an evil fashion mogul. Ferrell is helped out by an evil sidekick played by Mila Javovich, who must have had a blast on this film coming from the fashion world. Ferrell lets out all the stops in this film and is simply maniacal in his approach, and is just as silly as he is on Saturday Night Live.

Male model Derek Zoolander is up fro Male Model of the year for the fourth time against his newcomer rival Hansel. When Zoolander not only loses the award but embarrasses himself at the awards, he decides to retire from modeling. He returns to South Jersey, where he attempts to join his father (John Voight) and his brothers in their occupation-coal mining. Soon he is recruited by his agent (Jerry Stiller) to work for Mugato, who is recruiting him and plans to brainwash him into assassinating the prime minister of a Asian country who recently implemented reforms against child labor in his country. The script (written by Stiller and Drake Sather) plays for laughs throughout and makes fun of the entire fashion industry. To say that Derek Zoolander has a brain the size of a pea is a compliment. His "dumbness" never lets up in the film and there are no corny sincerity scenes where he finally gets it together. Stiller's character and many others in the film are just plain thick and it works. Many other celebrities have cameos throughout the film including Anne Meara (Stiller's mom), Winona Ryder, David Bowie, Billy Zane, Claudia Schiffer (as themselves), and David Duchovney as a washed up former hand model who knows of the conspiracy. (Naturally!) There are many great scenes but a real highlight is the "Walk Off", as Zoolander and Hansel challenge each other to an underground competition with one model trying to top the other's routine. Other imaginative and funny scenes include the breakdancing fight in the film's showdown sequence and Derek's brainwashing scene with Will Ferrell.

Picture-A beautiful transfer on this recent film from Paramount. Colors are bright and the images sharp. The fast moving film captures the different scenes with great authenticity from the depressing South Jersey coal mining scenes to the fashion and award shows. The brain washing scene uses elaborate special effects and is a real kick to watch. Sound-A very accurate Dolby 5.1 soundtrack is standard, with some two channel alternates. The film uses its soundtrack music to help set moods for the film and contains some excellent modern rock songs and oldies too. Channel separation is excellent up front, with sound effects used in the surround rear channels.

Paramount is finally starting to put extras on their discs and this has a fair amount of the disc. They include audio commentary from Stiller and Drake Sather, funny interactive menus with Zoolander introductions, 5 deleted scenes with commentary from Stiller, 5 extended scenes with commentary, 6 minutes worth of outtakes, 2 of the original "Zoolander films" presented at the VH-1 fashion awards, a music video from the "Wiseguys", portfolios of Zoolander and Hansel, and an alternate end credits reel. A very nice package of extras and needed on this disc since the film is only 90

Stiller fans will not be disappointed by this farce, who wrote, directed and stars in the vehicle. If you are a Stiller fan, you will laugh. Will Ferrell fans will also have much to laugh about, as he gets better with every new film performance. A fair amount of extras is included on the disc making it a greater value. Enjoy this silly fashion farce.