I don't think it was the right time to satirise the fashion industry
Everything is fashion this time and they mocked everything fashionable. I think a lot of people would have taken mocking everything personally. There was so much criticism against fashion that it surprised me to see fashion designers or fashion CEOs in the film as well. It was hilarious to see icons as well but I guess that is a joke too, that people in a narcissistic industry would do anything to be noticed. That is what is being mocked.
Right now though, it was the wrong time to do it because everyone thinks they are a super star right now through social media so with the film being represented like this from the beginning with Justin Bieber.
I think it is a very funny film and I think the fashion world, being double standards and tongue in cheek and a satire of itself, needs to be criticised. The problem is, from geek world, hipsters to even the news - everything is fashion now so this would have been a mockery of everyone. I don't think that would have settled well with most viewers.
While the first Zoolander was released during a time when many people weren't wired and publicising and exposing themselves, that film worked. Now everybody is trying to show off. While a better version of the first film, you can't make a film where most of your market can't connect with.
I still liked it but I can see why people didn't like it. It was exposing, the selfishness, narcissism and vanity of the modern world.