Paramount Pictures
One of Ben Stiller‘s most iconic characters returns to theaters this week. Derek Zoolander first appeared in a sketch made for the 1996 VH1 Fashion Awards, and Stiller brought the dim-witted male model back to the event a year later before promoting him to the big screen in 2001. Now, 20 years since his inception, he’s finally back with Zoolander No. 2. It’s surprising that such a popular character took so long to receive a sequel, but does he actually deserve one?
Below we look at Stiller’s 15 most well-known roles, ranking them from the worst to the best. And I’ll tell you right now: Zoolander is not that high on the list.
15. Larry Daley (Night at the Museum)
There’s a difference between a straight man and a bland man, and Stiller’s museum security guard in the Night at the Museum franchise is the latter. He’s at the center of his movies, acting like a glue for the main attractions — that’d be all the exhibits that come to life — but he’s like a clear, almost invisible adhesive. Nothing about his part in the series is memorable at all. The majority of people who’ve seen all three installments probably couldn’t even tell you his name.
14. Ted Stroehmann (There’s Something About Mary)
Neither his first nor his best example of the awkward, bad-situation-after-another shtick that he’s become famous for, this is unfortunately one his most commonly celebrated. The Farrelly brothers creation is the most ridiculous of his roles, but not in a funny way. The scenarios he finds himself in aren’t realistic enough, therefore not at all relatable, nor is he an interesting enough character, so not at all identifiable, to make them more than just cheap and stupid gag play.
13. Arturo Mendez (Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgandy)
Should Stiller play a Latino character, even in a cameo? Surely there was a funny person of color for the part. But Stiller had to be involved in Anchorman‘s Frat Pack-populated rumble, and he loves handlebar mustaches. The biggest problem with this character has nothing to do with race anyway. It’s that he’s just not funny enough, especially for being the leader of the last news team introduced in the scene. His silent colleague with the machete and the maraca, though, is hilarious.
12. David Starsky (Starsky & Hutch)
Stiller may be okay at playing the straight man now and again, but he’s not permitted to be as grounded as he should be as the tough, no-nonsense half of this buddy cop comedy. And he’s often at his worst excessiveness when meant to be a tough guy. The most thought that went into remaking this character from the classic TV series was in his appearance, and to that the movie is fairly successful. Beyond that, neither the script nor Stiller has anything new to say about this guy.
11. Derek Zoolander (Zoolander)
More than any of Stiller’s roles, Zoolander is the equivalent of a one-note Saturday Night Live character getting his own movie and not really having enough substance to fill a feature. Stiller’s more outlandish creations have always been best in small doses, whether in sketches on The Ben Stiller Show or as minor or cameo roles in other people’s movies. Even then, Zoolander is not a very likable or relatable character and would probably still be irritating in one or two scenes.
10. White Goodman (Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story)
As far as thinly developed comedy film adversaries go, Goodman is at least distinct and interesting in his appearance, especially when wearing his dodgeball team uniform. He’s got the look and energy of a funny alpha male type, but the gym-owner character doesn’t bring much to the movie beyond that. None of Stiller’s lines meant for humor hit their mark and his fake commercials are only mildly amusing. The good thing is it’s not a leading role so could be insubstantial.
9. Mr. Furious (Mystery Men)
How funny is a superhero whose power is his rage? No, he doesn’t grow in size and strength, like the Hulk. He just gets mad. His real name is Roy, and he goes mildly berserk when he’s angry, with no additional weapons that are a part of him (a la Wolverine) or not. It’s another character that doesn’t have enough going on to be stretched through a whole movie, but he is sufficiently ridiculous and is surrounded by plenty other ridiculous heroes, so it works out fine. Just fine.
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