Parents' Guide to

Zoolander

By Heather Boerner, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Surprisingly entertaining modeling spoof has sex, swearing.

Movie PG-13 2001 89 minutes
Zoolander Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 13+

Based on 22 parent reviews

jkim24
jkim24 Adult
January 9, 2021
age 14+

Ultimately, it's a comedy

Sometimes, age ratings make me think that we are quick to think that things like sex and swearing are important not to model for teens, who probably more than any other group needs to laugh and see the absurdity of things, rather than be depressed beyond measure at endless violence, cruelty, incompetence, greed, and apathy portrayed in expected and tasteful ways. Joan of Arc was executed at 14, I don't think it was comedy, probably it the opposite that was the forerunner there for everybody. It also reminds me of the studies where they see at what age children understand when something isn't real and isn't supposed to be real, it's before kindergarten. It's pretty clear in this movie who the bad guy is, and the faults that the characters have, that we all have, maybe in not such funny ways. There are probably few 14 year olds in America who don't realize that they are making fun of the very real tendency in the fashion world to reward being thin, please don't worry that making fun of a bad trend will be interpreted by kids as something to emulate, quite the opposite in my experience.
Apersonthatdoesstuff ..
Apersonthatdoesstuff .. Parent
February 22, 2021
age 13+

Good

Violence 2/5 Sex 4/5 Language 3/5 Drinking/Drugs/Smoking 1/5
See all 22 parent reviews

What's the Story?

When the new Malaysian prime minister promises to raise the minimum wage for his country's workers, cabals of fashion industry insiders know there's only one choice: Kill the prime minister -- and use a male model to do it. "We need a beautiful, self-absorbed simpleton who can be manipulated and molded, like Jell-o," intones a woman veiled by shadow. Enter Derek Zoolander (Ben Stiller), a veteran male model who names his looks (Blue Steel, Le Tigre, etc.) but manages to look the same doing all of them, and who always wanted to make a living "being really, really, really, ridiculously good-looking." When he loses a prestigious fashion award to up-and-comer Hansel (Owen Wilson) and his three best model friends die after having a gasoline fight (don't ask), Derek quits modeling, only to come back to international espionage, an orgy, and a date with destiny.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (22 ):
Kids say (53 ):

ZOOLANDER delights with silly jokes that you can't help but giggle at, and teens will finds lots to enjoy. If you think it sounds dumb, it is. But it's a good dumb, like Austin Powers: Man of Mystery or Dodgeball. Watch it for the scene where Derek and Hansel do street battle, male model-style, with a runway.

There's also some inspired casting: David Duchovny as a conspiracy-theory devotee and long-time hand model, and Will Ferrell as the ridiculous villain Mugatu, the designer of the Derelicte look. There are pop cultural references galore and cameos by everyone from Paris Hilton to Donatella Versace to David Bowie. Many of the references are to '80s pop culture and may fly over the head of teens. There are also lots of product placements. But in the end, just sit back and watch the pretty people act stupid, and you'll have a great time.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about some of Zoolander's more serious themes, like bulimia, literacy, and sweatshop labor. Do you like seeing serious subjects brought up in silly movies? How does that affect their impact?

  • What do you think the movie is saying about models and how our culture treats them? Are any of the characters intended to be role models?

  • Who's the intended audience of this movie? Why do so many people love silly comedies? Why do different types of humor appeal to different people?

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