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Parents' Guide to

Zoolander 2

By S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Racy sequel to cult comedy hit is a hot (but funny) mess.

Movie PG-13 2016 102 minutes
Zoolander 2 Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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age 14+

Based on 10 parent reviews

Apersonthatdoesstuff ..
Apersonthatdoesstuff .. Parent
February 22, 2021
age 14+

Ehhh

Violence 2/5 Sex 4/5 Language 4/5 Drinking/Drugs/Smoking 2/5

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much consumerism
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
Binge W.
Binge W. Parent of 10-year-old
May 20, 2018
age 15+

M+

This movie had me laughing my butt off. It was really good. There was one sexual reference of an o**y that was taken very crudely that was for mature audiences. The language was for mature audiences also because they had 1 f word and 1 middle finger. There was some violence for teen audiences that was silly like when Justin Bieber got shot up about 30 times and still did not die with a machine gun and one of the main characters got a knife in their head and still lived the other was just funny and stupid. My rating R for an extremely crude sexual situation, crude humor, some language and suggestive material.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
See all 10 parent reviews

What's the Story?

It's been years since supermodel Derek Zoolander (Ben Stiller) stopped a deadly weapon with his signature "look," Magnum, and built the Derek Zoolander Center for Kids Who Can't Read Good, and things aren't looking so great for him. His school collapsed, killing his wife and injuring his best friend, Hansel (Owen Wilson), who now won't speak to Derek and has retired from modeling, spending his days with his perpetual orgy. When the tabloids photograph Derek losing his temper while attempting to make spaghetti for his son, Child Protective Services whisks the boy away, leaving Derek holed up in the wilds of northern New Jersey. Then Billy Zane (reprising his role as himself from the original) shows up with an invitation for Derek to attend a fashion show hosted by the supreme fashionista, Alexanya Atoz (Kristen Wiig). Reunited in Rome, Derek and Hansel find themselves roped into a murderous plot hatched by the evil Mugatu (Will Ferrell), who still hates Derek.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (10 ):
Kids say (24 ):

To enjoy ZOOLANDER 2 is to ignore all the usual ways in which you measure fine filmmaking (like plot and story arc), because a) it's a hot mess, and b) it's still funny. Nostalgia fuels the comedy, from the moment we spot Derek in all his high-haired, narcissistic glory (and brief morose "hermit crab" stint) and Hansel in his loopy, laid-back ditziness. There are few better buddies to pair up in a buddy comedy than these two. (They're well-matched by Penelope Cruz as a swimsuit-model-turned-Interpol-investigator; she holds her own against the returning stars' wackiness.)

That the storyline -- something about the fountain of youth and Derek's son -- makes absolutely no sense (and is uncomfortable to boot, given that it makes fun of a young boy's weight) doesn't fully detract from the enjoyment of seeing Derek and Hansel back in action. But make no mistake, this movie is silly, crude, and even a bit outdated with all the jokes about supermodels, their (lack of) intellect, and their obsession with weight. It's also sometimes irritating in its zany mindlessness. But anything with Stiller, Wiig, Ferrell, and Wilson deserves watching ... as long as you adjust all expectations accordingly.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Zoolander 2's messages. In theory, it's mocking the shallower aspects of fashion and celebrity culture, but it also makes jokes at the expense of an overweight character. Is that inappropriate or in keeping with the film's themes? Can media affect kids' body image?

  • Derek and Hansel are portrayed as airheaded supermodels: Is that a cliche? How does the movie balance its affection for the characters with its commentary on models and fashion?

  • Does the film work as a sequel? What are the perils of following up on a movie that's become a cult favorite?

  • 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?

Movie Details

  • In theaters: February 12, 2016
  • On DVD or streaming: May 24, 2016
  • Cast: Ben Stiller , Owen Wilson , Penelope Cruz
  • Director: Ben Stiller
  • Inclusion Information: Female actors
  • Studio: Paramount Pictures
  • Genre: Comedy
  • Run time: 102 minutes
  • MPAA rating: PG-13
  • MPAA explanation: crude and sexual content, a scene of exaggerated violence, and brief strong language
  • Last updated: September 18, 2023

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