ZOOLANDER

Its cold. The car wont start. Christmas is around the corner and someones going to have to pay for it. Sometimes you just feel like going to sit in a dark room with no-one hassling you, where there are people paid to make you laugh, just for an hour or two. Well, thats what cinemas are for! More specifically thats what comedy cinema is for.

This week sees the release of Zoolander, one of the silliest comedy movies you are likely to see this year.

Ben Stiller is probably best known in this country for two movies. Firstly the Farrelly brothers shock comedy Something About Mary with Cameron Diaz and a little dog that just refused to die whatever Stiller did to it. The second film, one with much wider appeal was Meet The Parents, where he played a hapless male nurse trying to ingratiate himself with his future in-laws. What many people might not know is that he also directed the much under-rated 1996 movie Cable Guy starring Matthew Brodrick, and has been a force to be reckoned within US comedy since like so many other comedy actors he joined Saturday Night Live.

So, Zoolander, first name Derek, is one of Ben Stillers sketch creations but not from Saturday Night Live. Zoolander first introduced himself to the world during the real VH1 fashion awards in 1996. It may well be that just being around the fashion industry for the evening showed Stiller just what potential there was for Zoolander the movie which he has co-written, directs and stars in.

Derek Zoolander is the fashion industry's number one male model, and following the real world perception of them, hes not too bright. In fact hes an idiot. His career is slouching and boy beauty Hansel (Owen Wilson) is the newer face and tough competition. Enter the bad guy fashion designer Mugatu (Will Ferrell) who takes advantage of this and Zoolander's stupidity, and brainwashes him to kill the Malaysian Prime Minister, who has put an end to vital fashion industry sweatshops.

The plot is absurd. Everything in it is absurd. Luckily its got the energy to keep the absurdity going where so many spoof movies run out of steam. The supporting cast of American comedians including Stiller's father Jerry appearing as his agent, and his wife Christine Taylor as a TIME magazine reporter, are all excellent, revelling in the chance to go over the top. There is also a host of cameos including David Duchovny, Jon Voight, Vince Vaughn, David Bowie, Cuba Gooding Jr, Winona Ryder, and even Ralph Lauren's own male model, Tyson Beckford.

Stiller is a brilliant comedy actor. Its so much easier to forget, watching Zoolander, that Zoolander isnt real, than it is ever to get lost in the character of Austin Powers (the closest movie character and genre to this). Powers is always Mike Myers doing Powers brilliantly, where as Stiller is just that shade closer to reality.

The only downside for me is that he isnt nearly as appealing as I think comedy stars have to be. I cant describe what it is about him that I dont really enjoy watching even though he made me laugh. He has an edge that works for straight actors but that I dont like in my comedy stars. If you saw him in the Friends episode, where he played the boyfriend of Rachel who is extremely aggressive when he loses his temper, then youll know what I mean. That character had an edge that he played perfectly but it wasnt funny. The situation made by Ross and the others made it funny. This is subjective of course. I know Stiller has a huge fan base. Whatever you think of his talents I can still tell you that Zoolander the character, his world and his movie made me laugh out loud several times, which I have to say doesnt happen that often in movies these days.

I heartily suggest that you forget your troubles, duck into the flicks, have a giggle and thank your lucky stars that you dont work with male models.