Zoolander 2

When "Zoolander" was released in 2001, it was a parody of the fashion world that didn't caused much of a ruckus at the box office. On DVD and cable, the film was able to find its audience and it became more ingrained into pop culture.

With this, the character became more popular than the actual movie that spawned him. Despite the increased popularity, it took over a decade to get a sequel greenlit. It was because of a tireless campaign from director/star/co-writer Ben Stiller that "Zoolander 2" finally arrives in theater. The question now becomes: Was it worth it?

Picking up in real time, the film quickly gives a recap of what has transpired over the last 15 years. Both Derek and Hansel are living in isolation in opposite parts of the country after a tragedy at Derek's foundation disfigures his friends and kills his wife, Matilda. It's not until a visit from Billy Zane that they individually decide to try to get their lives back. At the same time, the Interpol Fashion Division is looking into a string of celebrity murders that only Zoolander might be able to help solve.

For the most part, the plot doesn't make much sense. Beautiful people are being killed and, in their final moments, striking classic Zoolander facial expressions as a way to offer clues regarding a secret fountain of youth? Don't bother trying to piece it all together. It will just make your brain hurt, because by the time the ending comes about it won't matter anyway. Needless to say, the plot points are thinner than a runway model's waistline.

Around the midway point, with the re-introduction of Mugatu, the film finally finds its footing with a central driving force to guide the remainder of the film. The first half is spent drifting between themes regarding fatherhood, updating the characters, and trying to prove Zoolander (both the film and the man) are still relevant in 2016. Without a cohesive thread, however, it feels like you are floating from one set piece to another, and only some of them work. In the early part of the film, many of the jokes come lazily from the Derek's stupidity and how out of touch he is with the rest of the world. Some of the jokes land, but mining this feels like a retread from the original.

As with the original, "Zoolander 2" is chock full of celebrity cameos. These are actually the best part of the film. If only the writers had spent as much time developing the rest of the script as they did trying to shoehorn in some of the celebrities, the film would have been a lot more fun. The best part of the cameos is that the celebrities are willing to have fun with their image for the sake of a laugh. Whether it's Susan Boyle flipping off the press or Vogue editor Anna Wintour calling -- literally -- for blood, these are the real reason to watch "Zoolander 2."

The cast and crew are more than game, and it's obvious they were having fun while making the film. All of the characters from the last film are back in some way, shape, or form, though only the men are offered any roles of substance in the sequel. With all of the testosterone, two new female characters have been brought in: Penelope Cruz as an Interpol agent and Kristen Wiig as the designer who hires Derek and Hansel. It's nice to see Cruz let her hair down and have fun for a change of pace. Wiig is nearly unrecognizable in costume, but her comedic stylings shine through in the over-the-top Alexanya.

Did the world need "Zoolander 2?" Honestly, probably not. It was more of a vanity project for its makers and a reason for them to get the band together. The original remains a cult classic capsule of its time and is probably better left in the early 2000s. But, without taking the time to carefully craft a better script, the truth remains that Derek Zoolander works better in small doses and skits than in feature-length films. Come to this film for the nostalgia, but stay for the celebrity cameos.