This is At the Buzzer’s countdown of the best 25 comedies of all-time. Our panel of 10 cast their votes, and we’re revealing the results one by one until we get to No. 1 on Tuesday, May 10.
And now, our number 5:
5) Zoolander (4 votes, 216 points)
I wasn’t like every other kid, you know, who dreams about being an astronaut, I was always more interested in what bark was made out of on a tree. Richard Gere’s a real hero of mine. Sting. Sting would be another person who’s a hero. The music he’s created over the years, I don’t really listen to it, but the fact that he’s making it, I respect that. I care desperately about what I do. Do I know what product I’m selling? No. Do I know what I’m doing today? No. But I’m here, and I’m gonna give it my best shot.
Chris: Zoolander debuted a little over two weeks after 9/11 to decent reviews and a respectable box office showing. America was still out of sorts after the tragedy, so it’s hard to say what (if any) effect that had on the movie’s returns. But you can say with certainty that it moved up people’s comedy lists over time.
What should we focus on first? The ludicrous amount of star power that’s here, even for just fleeting moments? Okay, sure. Obviously the film is carried at the top by Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson and Will Farrell, but once you go beyond that…my goodness. Here’s just a few that I like in particular (you owe it to yourself to go find a complete list): Jon Voight, David Duchovny, Patton Oswalt, David Bowie, Lance Bass, and my personal favorite, Billy Zane.
How about absurd dialogue? Hansel’s little soliloquy at the top is certainly touching, but what about teaching children to read if they can’t fit into the building? What about that damn Hansel being so hot right now? What about feeling like you’re taking crazy pills? What about saying with complete seriousness that two people are breakdance fighting?
Honestly, I think my favorite thing about Zoolander is that nearly everyone in the movie is a complete idiot, and they take turns going along with one another down that stupid road one minute, then questioning why a situation is so dumb the next.
I’m sure there’s someone out there who’s been paying attention to this list saying “wait a minute, didn’t you knock Dumb and Dumber for being too stupid?” I suppose this movie just gets me for some reason. Sometimes you can’t explain funny.
Cary: I’ve never seen Zoolander. And it’s to the point now where I refuse to see it now just on principle.
RELATED LINKS
(22) Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
(15) Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
(13) What We Do in the Shadows
(10) Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery
PREVIOUS TOP 25s:
Objection Network 
It’s a shame the sequel was so unrelentingly awful. I love the first one but man, the definitely couldn’t get the magic working again.