History Film / Zoolander

Generally considered to be the film that started "The Frat Pack", a loosely organized group of popular comedians who starred together in some of the more successful comedy films of the 2000s. Not only did it bring most of the core members together, it also established the unique blend of slapstick comedy, social satire and over-the-top characters that characterized their style of humor. The group had a rotating stable of unofficial members, but Stiller, Wilson, Ferrell and Creator/VinceVaughn (who has an uncredited [[TheCameo cameo]] as Derek's brother) were generally considered to be the essential ones. This was the first film where the four appeared together, but not the last.

[[CharacterTitle Derek Zoolander]] (Stiller) is a [[MemeticMutation really, really ridiculously good-looking]] male model, who also happens to be incredibly shallow and [[BrainlessBeauty not too bright]]. He suffers a professional and personal setback when he loses the Male Model of the Year crown to rookie Hansel ("he's so hot right now") and three of his friends to a [[TooDumbToLive freak gasoline fight accident]].

His manager Maury Ballstein sends him to a week-long day spa, but it turns out to be a brainwashing center, where Derek becomes a sleeper agent programmed to assassinate the prime minister of Malaysia, who is obstructing the fashion industry's use of cheap Malaysian sweatshop labor. It's up to Derek, his love interest Matilda, and his rival-turned-friend Hansel ([[RunningGag "he's so hot right now"]]) to foil this plot and help Derek live past thirty.

A 2001 comedy film directed by and starring Creator/BenStiller, co-starring Creator/OwenWilson, Creator/WillFerrell, Christine Taylor, Creator/MillaJovovich, Jerry Stiller, and Creator/JonVoight.

* WellDoneSonGuy: Derek temporarily retires from modeling and tries to join his father and brother in the mining field. It doesn't go over well. When Derek reveals Magnum at the end of the film, however, his father is genuinely amazed and announces to the whole bar "That's my son!"

* AdamWesting: A number of real-life celebrities make cameo appearances in the film. The one who plays the most on his image is probably Fabio, who appears at the beginning of the film, accepting the "slashie" award for "best model slash actor" and "not the other way around". Fabio-esque male models are the main brunt on the film's satire.

** Actor-slash-model Creator/JamesMarsden plays John Wilkes Booth, the original "actor-slash-model".

* BrickJoke: "Derek, you did it!" "I know, I turned left!"

* J.P. Prewett is the only model in the film who has basic intelligence, and is clearly exasperated by Derek's stupidity.

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: What happened to the shadowy evil council who have been killing world leaders for decades? All that's shown is Mugatu, so the fate of the others is unclear.
** We Never get to see what J.P. Prewett's fate was, either (in a deleted scene he became a teacher at Derek's school).

** Hell, even Mugatu, the only person who recognizes that Derick has exactly one look, follows up MotiveRant by screaming about his piano key necktie as if it's some kind of grand accomplishment.

** We Never get to see what J.P. Prewett's fate was, either (in a deleted scene he became a teacher at Derick's school).

* AdaptationExpansion: Justified, in that the original Derik Zoolander skits make up a combined six-and-a-half minutes. The movie takes the character of Derik and puts him in at the center of a political {{conspiracy theory}} story.

* BerserkButton: The otherwise docile Derik is furious when Mugatu implies that all of Derki's looks are identical.

* CerebusRetcon: In the original skit, Derik claimed that he couldn't turn left because he was left-handed and [[InsaneTrollLogic there were no left-handed runways]]. Here, he has an actual disability that prevents him from turning to his left.

* MyHovercraftIsFullOfEels: Derek's grasp of Malay leaves much to be desired.
** Given that he's "dumb as a stump," the fact that he [[GeniusDitz speaks Malay at all]] is pretty impressive.

* BerserkButton: Zoolander loses his temper when Mugatu considers all of his modeling looks one and the same.

* NiceGuy: Derek, in a subversion of the typical bitchy-superstar stereotype, is actually sweet-natured and generous.
* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: Played straight with Derek, who's name is an amalgam of Calvin Klein models Mark Vanderloo and the Johnny Zander. Averted with all of the celebrity cameos, who play themselves.

* TheCameo: Lots, from the celebrities at the fashion show in the opening part of the film to Billy Zane's memetic role to David Bowie as the walkoff judge, and lots more where that came from. Also includes James Marsden in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it shot as John Wilkes Booth during the assassination exposition.

%%* DisneyAcidSequence: The drug-fueled orgy.

%%* InsistentTerminology: Mer''man''!

%%* TheManInTheMirrorTalksBack

--> '''Derek:''' Mer-MAN! (cough) MER-MAN!

** Jon Voight as Derek's father.

** Actor-slash-model James Marsden plays John Wilkes Booth, the original "actor-slash-model".

* ComputerEqualsMonitor: When told that files that could incriminate Mugatsu are inside a computer, Derek and Hansel take the monitor and [[LiteralMinded smash it open to try and get at the files]], [[NiceJobBreakingItHero accidentally destroying them.]] In this case, the trope is justified as the computer was an [=iMac=], where the monitor ''is'' the computer.

* RecordNeedleScratch: About ten minutes into the film, Derek's best friends are trying to cheer him up with a trip to the gas station for drinks. The scene itself is very cheerful and Wham!'s "Wake Me Up Before You Go Go" only makes the scene seem happier. The mood ends quickly and dramatically when the song fades out in a distorted fashion and all four of his friends die in a "freak gasoline fight accident."

* IntimateHealing: Taken up to eleven when Matilda mentions she's upset and hasn't had sex in years. She, Zoolander, and Hansel drink some drug laced tea and she [[GoodBadGirl has a drugged up gang bang with them and the others.]]

* IntimateHealing: Taken up to eleven when she mentions she's upset and hasn't had sex in years. She, Zoolander, and Hansel drink some drug laced tea and she [[GoodBadGirl has a drugged up gang bang with them and the others.]]

* WellDoneSonGuy: Derek temporarily retires from modeling and tries to join his dad and brother in the mining field. It doesn't go over well.
** When Zoolander reveals Magnum, however (Derek's father is watching the fashion show at bar), his dad is genuinely amazed and announces to the whole bar 'That's my son!'

Generally considered to be the film that started "The Frat Pack", a loosely organized group of popular comedians who starred together in some of the more successful comedy films of the 2000s. The group had a rotating stable of unofficial members, but Stiller, Wilson, and Ferrell were generally considered to be the three essential players. This was the first of many films where the trio appeared together.