Page 40 - ADU Voice Volume 5 Issue 1

40 Voice | Fall 2025

Throughout the film, our main character constantly
lacks common sense and general knowledge;
despite being introspective, he is still relegated
to being a follower due to his environment.
When Matilda and Derek go investigating an
anonymous tip after realizing Derek is a now
trained sleeper agent/assassin, Derek questions
why male models are used as for the job. JP
Prewitt, former hand model and almost-assassin
of Jimmy Carter turned graveyard keeper, lists
various reasons but mainly stresses on one key
ZOOLANDER
fact: “models don’t think for themselves”. This
line incites commentary on the modelling world;
the implied notion here is not meant to generalize
that models are truly unintelligent and unable to
make their own decisions, but rather to call into
question what the industry has models do. How
much control can be exercised on models, to the
point where they can be persuaded into doing
anything? To make Derek understand his point, JP
Prewitt makes him recall any photoshoot he’s ever
had, leading to a quick flashback of a shoot where
he is dressed as a monkey with the photographer
yelling, “Dance, monkey! In your little spangly ZOOLANDER
shoes!” This imagery, again, illustrates the extent
of control the industry has on those under the
contract, especially when this job is all they’re
“good for”, a sentiment which our protagonist is
made to believe throughout the film.

Zoolander is a meticulous piece of cinema that
comments on the woes of the fashion industry
from a humorous standpoint. The characters
are meant to be the heightened in traits because
while they are fleshed out with story arcs and
given development throughout, they are critiques
personified. Mugatu villainous nature is what
allows him to take control of Derek, an idiot but
well-intentioned in his efforts to be better. When
the film ends with Mugatu defeated and Derek
having established the educational institution,
“The Derek Zoolander Center for Kids Who Can’t
Read Good and Wanna Learn to Do Other Stuff
Good Too”, the critique of the film is completes
itself as Derek takes control and contributes to the
world in his way.