# Zoolander...oh NOOOOOOO **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 28, 2001, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zoolander-oh-nooooooo/84360 "2001-09-28T18:23:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tiny\_ham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@tiny\_ham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_ham)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zoolander-oh-nooooooo/84360/1 "2001-09-28T18:23:50Z")
Dammit dammit dammit. This happens every single time I get excited for a movie. [Roger Ebert](http://www.suntimes.com/output/ebert1/wkp-news-zoo28f.html) gives my latest hypemachine ONE FRIGGING STAR. Oh God, no. I’ve been waiting for MONTHS to see this movie. Ben Stiller cracks my ass up one wall and down another. Anyone seen it that can tell me Roger’s wrong??? PLEASE? jarbaby ---
**Author:** ![dalovindj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/65b543/32.png) [@dalovindj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalovindj)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zoolander-oh-nooooooo/84360/2 "2001-09-28T18:27:11Z")
A friend of mine went to the premier and loved it. He said Stiller and Will Farell are in rare form. But for Stiller it’s not that rare. I’ve loved him ever since “The Ben Stiller Show”. I always thought that got canceled way to prematurely. The U2 spoof was a classic. Anyone else see this show? DaLovin’ Dj ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zoolander-oh-nooooooo/84360/3 "2001-09-28T18:28:32Z")
I’m going to see Zoolander at 5:00 Easter Standard Time. I’ll post my opinion when I get back. ---
**Author:** ![Tretiak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a88e57/32.png) [@Tretiak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tretiak)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zoolander-oh-nooooooo/84360/4 "2001-09-28T18:30:46Z")
Well over at Rotten Tomatoes it is getting a generally favorable response. > **[Rotten Tomatoes: Movies | TV Shows | Movie Trailers | Reviews](https://www.rottentomatoes.com)** > > Rotten Tomatoes, home of the Tomatometer, is the most trusted measurement of quality for Movies & TV. The definitive site for Reviews, Trailers, Showtimes, and Tickets ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zoolander-oh-nooooooo/84360/5 "2001-09-28T18:33:07Z")
I will pay good money for just two lines that I’ve seen on commercials: Will Farrell: “They’re breakdance fighting.” Ben Stiller (in response to someone who was bulemic): “You can read minds?” ---
**Author:** ![LC\_Strawhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e19adc/32.png) [@LC\_Strawhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LC_Strawhouse)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zoolander-oh-nooooooo/84360/6 "2001-09-28T18:33:45Z")
He gave it one star because he’s offended by the movie’s politics (?!), not because the movie’s bad. I want to see it too, I haven’t heard anyone claim the it isn’t funny. Anyone else notice that ZOOLANDER seems to go into Bret Easton Ellis territory (braindead militant models?) ---
**Author:** ![DPWhite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d26b3c/32.png) [@DPWhite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPWhite)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zoolander-oh-nooooooo/84360/7 "2001-09-28T18:37:22Z")
Hmmm. Did you like Dumb and Dumber? Just a WAG. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zoolander-oh-nooooooo/84360/8 "2001-09-28T18:38:14Z")
Will Farrell is reason enough to pan the movie. How in God’s name did the guy manage to build a career doing comedy when he isn’t funny? ---
**Author:** ![tiny\_ham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@tiny\_ham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_ham)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zoolander-oh-nooooooo/84360/9 "2001-09-28T18:40:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DPWhite \* > \*\*Hmmm. Did you like Dumb and Dumber? Just a WAG. \*\* Are you asking me? Because I don’t see Jim Carrey movies. Except Batman. But do like base humor films. Something About Mary, American Pie, Road Trip stuff. jarbaby ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zoolander-oh-nooooooo/84360/10 "2001-09-28T18:55:25Z")
I’ve heard two reviews of it on the radio today, both compared the movie to an overlong SNL skit and **Dumb and Dumber**. I haven’t seen the movie, nor do I plan to. Not into “base humor.” ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zoolander-oh-nooooooo/84360/11 "2001-09-28T18:59:24Z")
BTW: I think Roger may have been referring to the fact that portions were filmed in NYC. ---
**Author:** ![Menocchio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Menocchio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Menocchio)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zoolander-oh-nooooooo/84360/12 "2001-09-28T19:44:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jeff Olsen \* > \*\*BTW: I think Roger may have been referring to the fact that portions were filmed in NYC. \*\* Not quite. The plot involves Americans oppressing a Muslim nation (Malaysian child labor), and a plot to assasinate its leader. Roger make a big deal about the fact that they used Malaysia instead of a fictionalcountry, and excised the WTC from it, but not refrences to killing a Muslim. Also, that the prime minister is uncredited, and the film is thus racist. Although it’s sqaurely against child labor. Roger’s reaching on this one, I think. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zoolander-oh-nooooooo/84360/13 "2001-09-28T19:46:48Z")
I think Ebert dislikes the fact that this film is about an assasination attempt in a country with a red, white and blue flag which has large twin towers in their largest city. That’s right-the film takes place in Maylasia. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zoolander-oh-nooooooo/84360/14 "2001-09-28T20:45:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Menocchio \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Jeff Olsen \* > > \*\*BTW: I think Roger may have been referring to the fact that portions were filmed in NYC. \*\* > > Not quite. The plot involves Americans oppressing a Muslim nation (Malaysian child labor), and a plot to assasinate its leader. > > Roger make a big deal about the fact that they used Malaysia instead of a fictionalcountry, and excised the WTC from it, but not refrences to killing a Muslim. Also, that the prime minister is uncredited, and the film is thus racist. > > Although it’s sqaurely against child labor. > > Roger’s reaching on this one, I think. \*\* Just goes to show much I’m avoiding this movie. Can’t even remember what it’s about. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zoolander-oh-nooooooo/84360/15 "2001-09-28T23:17:25Z")
Well, I just got back from seeing Zoolander. I think everyone already has a pretty good idea of how they’re going to feel about it. If you like stupid humor, you should go, because it’ll have you in stitches. Otherwise, save the money. ---
**Author:** ![annalamerino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b3f665/32.png) [@annalamerino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/annalamerino)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2001, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zoolander-oh-nooooooo/84360/16 "2001-09-29T01:20:21Z")
I saw the sneak preview here and it was hilarious. Got a top review from the paper as well. ---
**Author:** ![annalamerino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b3f665/32.png) [@annalamerino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/annalamerino)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2001, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zoolander-oh-nooooooo/84360/17 "2001-09-29T01:23:40Z")
It also did well with reviewers in general. The key “composite” movie review site is here: \*\* [http://www.rottentomatoes.com/movie-1110145/](http://www.rottentomatoes.com/movie-1110145/) \*\* ---
**Author:** ![Jeannie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e480ec/32.png) [@Jeannie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeannie)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2001, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zoolander-oh-nooooooo/84360/18 "2001-09-29T16:06:57Z")
I saw it yesterday with my husband. I agree that Ebert panned it for the wrong reasons. I was not offended by any aspect of this movie. In fact, I was too bored senseless to be offended. IMHO, the only funny parts are the ones you’ve already seen in trailers and commercials (“How can children learn to read when they can’t even fit inside the building?”). The only other funny part was a scene at a gas station (those who have seen it know what I’m talking about). It wasn’t the worst movie ever, but it certainly was not as full of laughs as I would have expected. At the very least, see a matinee so you don’t pay full price for it. ---
**Author:** ![Not\_A\_Tame\_Lion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e36b37/32.png) [@Not\_A\_Tame\_Lion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Not_A_Tame_Lion)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2001, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zoolander-oh-nooooooo/84360/19 "2001-09-29T18:43:40Z")
I have to speak up here, only to concur with RickJay’s comment about Will Ferrell. He is hideously, violently UNfunny, and he just about ruins everything in which he appears. He almost personally ruined “Jay & Silent Bob” (though it had its own inherent weaknesses). One semi-amusing bit part in “Austin Powers,” and suddenly the guy is spreading like crabgrass. Someone needs to tap him on the shoulder and say, “Hey, give us all a break already. You need to find work for which you’re qualified…and I noticed that the Taco Bell down the street is hiring…” There. That’s my one acerbic rant for the day. Thank you for enabling my behavior. ---
**Author:** ![Caracticus\_Potts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bcef8e/32.png) [@Caracticus\_Potts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caracticus_Potts)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2001, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zoolander-oh-nooooooo/84360/20 "2001-09-29T18:54:04Z")
Ebert wants to judge everything by its cinematic merits. He rarely acknowledges a movie as simply “fun brain candy.” There’s a big difference (to me anyway) between a “bad” movie and an entertaining “brain candy” movie. I love Ben Stiller’s comedic skills even if the rest of the movie doesn’t hold up. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zoolander-oh-nooooooo/84360.md?page=2)