Zoolander (2001)

Zoolander: Directed by Ben Stiller. With Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Christine Taylor, Will Ferrell. At the end of his career, a clueless fashion model is brainwashed to kill the Prime Minister of Malaysia.

“Released a few short weeks after Sept. 11, Zoolander became the target of u0026quot;this is why they hate usu0026quot; diatribes. I didnu0026#39;t see it until months later and immediately recognized what I can only hope I would have seen if I had watched it earlier–that this is a superb satire/farce. There arenu0026#39;t many movies that manage to be both silly and smart at the same time, and this is one. It is not only a send-up of the modeling and fashion industries, admittedly easy targets, but of our whole image-obsessed culture which commodifies love, spirituality, patriotism, heroism just as easily and unthinkingly as it does kitchen appliances. This is not a u0026quot;stupidu0026quot; movie, even though it is about stupid people and stupid situations. It keeps the targets of its satire within its sights at every moment, never letting that focus flag to pursue maudlin subplots, but at the same time, it is unfailingly hilarious, with marvelous comic acting, sight-gags, sets, and costumes. The screen is just packed with visual jokes at almost every moment. This is not a movie that anyone needs to be embarrassed to watch or enjoy. But it is also just plain damned fun!”