Zoolander 2 parents guide

Zoolander 2 Parent Guide

The best fate anyone could wish for this production is that it will be cast off as fast as last year's fashion faux pas.

Overall D

Everything old is new again in this sequel to the 2001 film. Reprising their former roles, Ben Stiller plays an aging male model and Owen Wilson stars as Hansel, his friend in fashion.

Release date February 12, 2016

Violence C-
Sexual Content C-
Profanity C-
Substance Use B

Why is Zoolander 2 rated PG-13? The MPAA rated Zoolander 2 PG-13 for crude and sexual content, a scene of exaggerated violence, and brief strong language.

Run Time: 102 minutes

Official Movie Site

Parent Movie Review

The original Zoolander released just days after the fall of the World Trade Center in New York City. Poking fun of the fashion industry, it didn’t do well at the box office. Yet, like a bottle of Kool-Aid turning into reasonably fine wine, the film has garnered a cult following and an appreciation for some of its witty lines—both likely reasons why Ben Stiller felt it was a good idea to create a sequel fifteen years later. Frankly, he should have walked away from the original and been grateful for his unexpected win instead of directing and starring in what is possibly the greatest waste of filmmaking money and cameo faces the industry has seen in some time.

The movie begins with Derek Zoolander (Stiller), the idiot fashion model, recovering from a personal loss linked to the plot of the first movie that’s far too ridiculous to detail. (If you haven’t seen that one and still insist on watching Number 2, you may want to do your homework first.) Fifteen years older, the has-been decides to revive his career after a strange plea, à la Star Wars, is delivered to him. Fortuitously, the same holograph message is also sent to his old buddy Hansel (Owen Wilson).

Finding a reason to get these two buffoons back on the runway isn’t easy, so Stiller’s three screenwriters cooked up a conspiracy theory involving an Interpol agent named Valentina, played by Penelope Cruz. A former swimsuit model who was never taken seriously in the industry because her breasts were too big (cue Stiller’s and Wilson’s admiring stare), she’s convinced the pair of failed fashionistas are the key to finding a serial killer who has murdered some of the world’s most famous pop stars. (The opening minutes of the film feature Justin Bieber being gunned down.)

The way-too-long sequence showing Bieber’s body being riddled with dozens of bullets is the high-water mark for depicted violence in this movie, although there is discussion about human sacrifice too and some images implying a heart has been pulled out of a living body. Of course, there is lots of other madcap mayhem that’s so nonsensical it makes the Three Stooges look like Harvard boys. Meanwhile sexual discussion pervades this script that depends on crudities and innuendo to generate humor. Orgies, bisexuality, intersexuality and bestiality are only a few topics joked about. A variety of moderate and mild profanities, including a sexual expletive and a finger gesture, are included as well.

Perhaps the real conspiracy in Zoolander 2 is how Stiller sacrificed the script in favor of finding a moment to parade all of his famous friends (Sting, Susan Sarandon, Katy Perry, Demi Lovato, Kim Kardashian, Kanye West and Marc Jacobs to name a few). Fragments of story are thrown on the screen in a manner that seems far more intent on increasing the ratio of cameos per minute than driving the plot toward a plausible conclusion. The few positive messages for young audiences—like not judging the career potential of a swimsuit model by her chest size, or discriminating against fat people—are lost in the tediousness of the rest of the tripe. The best fate anyone could wish for this production is that it will be cast off as fast as last year’s fashion faux pas.

Directed by Ben Stiller. Starring Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Will Ferrell, Penélope Cruz. Running time: 102 minutes. Theatrical release February 12, 2016. Updated

Zoolander 2
Rating & Content Info

Why is Zoolander 2 rated PG-13? Zoolander 2 is rated PG-13 by the MPAA for crude and sexual content, a scene of exaggerated violence, and brief strong language.

Violence: Frequent violent portrayals and mayhem are shown in a humorous context, where injuries and deaths are trivialized. A gun chase results in the shooting of a celebrity—this long sequence depicts the repeated bullets hitting the body and bloody wounds. Characters discuss a serial murderer. The depiction of a construction disaster shows a collapsing building that leads to an explosion, injuries and fatalities. A child puts a metal utensil in a toaster and is in danger from other kitchen hazards. A car rolls several times, but the occupants are not injured. Characters are bullied, mocked and verbally berated. Human sacrifice is discussed, and there are images of this ritual with victims being strapped down and threatened with a knife, as well as a shot of a human heart being held in a man’s hand. Stabbing and impaling are shown. A man is scalded by hot liquid. Characters are burned by lava.

Sexual Content: Sexual jokes and references are pervasive and include masturbation, bestiality, orgies, bondage sex, sadomasochist attraction, bisexual and heterosexual relationships. A man runs away from the news that he has impregnated several people (men, women, an animal and what looks like a child are among the soon to be parents). Women are seen in scanty and sexy costumes, and some shirtless men are also shown. An intersexual character makes sensual gestures towards a man. Crude terms for body parts and sexual behavior are frequent. A character is advised to engage in meaningless sex. A couple kisses passionately and playfully touch tongues. A man puts his hands on a woman’s breasts. Talking to a child, a man shares details about a two-on-one sexual encounter involving the child’s mother. Woman wrestle with each other and ogling men (and a boy) look on. Sexually suggestive art is shown. A miscarriage is mentioned.

Language: One use of the sexual expletive is a heard in a non-sexual context. A sexual finger gesture is shown. Scatological slang, mild and moderate profanities are included in the script as are crude names for body parts and sexual slurs. Name calling and bullying occur.

Alcohol / Drug Use: Some background characters are shown smoking. Drinking occurs in social settings.

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Zoolander 2 Parents' Guide

This movie features many celebrity cameos. How many did you recognize? Why do you think famous people would agree to appear in a movie? How does the movie’s content reflect on their image?

The film also includes many product placements—scenes where brand named merchandise is shown. Why are deals made between manufactures and moviemakers? How is this inclusion similar to the celebrity cameos?

Several of the characters shown here are going through an identify crisis. How do issues like body image, abandonment, and lack of father figures tie into their problems? Where could you turn if you were also asking the question, “Who am I?”

Home Video

The most recent home video release of Zoolander 2 movie is May 24, 2016. Here are some details…

Home Video Notes: Zoolander 2: Magnum Edition
Release Date: 24 May 2016
Zoolander 2 releases to home video in a Magnum Edition (Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy) with the following extras:
- The Zoolander Legacy
- Go Big or Go Rome
- Drake Sather: The Man Who Created Zoolander
- Youth Milk

Related home video titles:

This film is a sequel to Zoolander. Ben Stiller gives a more family friendly performance in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. He and Owen Wilson star together in the Night at the Museum franchise.