Napoleon Dynamite

First off, if you haven’t seen this movie, you’re probably either living under a rock or you’re Uncle Rico trying to relive your high school football days. This film is like that one weird kid in class who somehow becomes the legend of the school for doing absolutely nothing… and it’s absolutely brilliant!The movie follows Napoleon, a frizzy-afro-haired, moon boot-wearing, tater tot-pocketing teenager whose social skills are as smooth as coarse sandpaper. He’s the kind of guy who would take a glamour shot with a liger (that’s a lion-tiger mix, bred for its skills in magic, obviously, gosh).Now, let’s talk about the plot – or the lack thereof. It’s basically a series of awkward events strung together by even more awkward silences. You’ve got Napoleon’s friend Pedro running for class president with campaign promises of building herds of wild stallions, and there is an iconic dance scene. Napoleon busts out moves that look like he’s simultaneously fighting off a swarm of bees and trying to signal a plane for landing.The dialogue is so cringeworthy that it loops back around to being comedic gold. Lines like “Your mom goes to college” and “Tina, you fat lard, come get some dinner” are delivered with the emotional range of a teaspoon, and it’s hilarious. And the fashion? Oh, the fashion. It’s like a thrift store threw up on the characters. Napoleon’s brother, Kip, is basically the OG hipster with his oversized glasses and vest, and don’t even get me started on Uncle Rico’s time-traveling van.As I said in the title, “Napoleon Dynamite” is a masterpiece of the mundane. It’s a film that teaches us that it’s okay to be different, to be awkward, and to love ligers. It’s a slow burn that leaves you wondering, “What did I just watch?” and yet, you can’t help but quote it for years on end.

I saw this goofy weird flick years ago and tried to get my wife to watch it with me. It reminded me of how weird my 1970's high school experience was. But recently she heard an NPR review of how the film was made on a shoestring budget so we watched it together recently and just laughed. I guess it's the 20 year anniversary of the film. Anyway, Vote for Pedro.

This movie is my #1 favorite comedy!Pros:- Comical in EVERY SCENE!- They could put each and every scene in the trailer because they are so funny!!Cons:- Sarcastic Humor, not recommended for young children.

This movie is a delightful escape from reality! With its catchy plot and relatable themes, the story resonates deeply with anyone who's ever navigated the rollercoaster of teenage years. It's packed with clean, goofy humor that's perfect for the whole family. While it might not hit you right away (like it didn't for me the first time!), it has a strange charm that grows on you. It's guaranteed to help you forget about your worries and leave you smiling. A definite keeper that deserves a spot on your family movie night rotation!

For us elder millennials it’s like a walk in the park. Smelling the fresh cut grass that Tina shat in. It’s dancing like no one is watching. I’d put this movie in my pocket like tots…. Know what I am saying?

In high school, I was one of the nameless, faceless rabble who drew little attention, maintained a low profile, and caused little trouble all in the hopes of getting out relatively unscathed, a goal I managed to accomplish, partly due to my sometimes intimidating presence, but mainly because I was able to fit in, sort of like a fish within a shoal...but there were those who weren't so fortunate, as obvious physical characteristics or personality traits (or both) tended to enunciate their presence regardless of vain attempts to `blend in' or enjoy the anonymity I, and those like me, tended to take for granted. Napoleon Dynamite (2004) is a film about one of those individuals.The film, written and directed by Jared Hess, takes place in a small Idaho town and stars Jon Heder as the title character (he reminded me a lot of Timothy Busfield's character of Arnold Poindexter in the 1984 film Revenge of the Nerds). Also appearing is Jon Gries (Real Genius, Fright Night Part II), Aaron Ruell, Efren Ramirez (Kazaam), Tina Majorino (she played the little girl with the map on her back in Kevin Costner's flopperino Waterworld), and Haylie Duff, sister to the more famous Hillary Duff, who both share a surname that's the same as Homer Simpson's favorite alcoholic beverage, Duff Beer.Napoleon Dynamite is an odd character for sure, with his shaggy red afro, moon boots (he wears them year `round), and t-shirts usually featuring those glossy iron-ons so popular in the 70's (he seems to purchase much of his wardrobe at the local thrift store) with a penchant for drawing mythical creatures, boasting about fictional girlfriends who live in other states (don't they always?), and touting his non-existent martial arts abilities, "You know, there's like a b*tt-load of gangs at this school. This one gang kept wanting me to join because I'm pretty good with a bowstaff". Oh yeah, he breathes mostly through his mouth, and his vernacular includes, but isn't limited to, the liberal usage of such words like sweet, flippin', gosh, freakin', and heck, and he, along with his 32 year old brother Kip (Ruell), live with their grandmother, who owns a llama named Tina. After an ATV accident sends grandma to the hospital, Uncle Rico (Gries) arrives to watch over the boys, and involves Kip in his schemes to make some sweet cash. Napoleon, meanwhile, finds a friend in a newly arrived Hispanic student named Pedro (Ramirez) and he and their shy and kinda dorky friend Deb (Majorino) assist Pedro in his bid to become the next student body president, their competition being Summer (Duff), member of the cheerleading squad and the most popular girl in school. Do the trio have a chance in beating the juggernaut that is Summer? Perhaps, but it requires Napoleon to pull forth from within something no one would have realized he had, not even himself...The film is very odd...it's kind of a mix of the Coen brothers (Fargo, Raising Arizona), John Waters (Crybaby), and the earlier films of John Hughes (Sixteen Candles). There's not much of a story at the beginning, more of a series of innocuous, unrelated, comical events, but later on we do see some development in this area with regards to Napoleon and Deb helping Pedro in his running for student body president. Some scenes will make little or no sense in relation to what you may perceive as the story, so my recommendation is to just let it go, and enjoy the film for what it is, whatever it is...the real fun lies within Heder and his complete submersion into the character of Napoleon, wallowing in his own uncoolness. Initially most will probably find him annoying and off-putting, but he sort of grew on me, and I actually found myself quietly rooting for him, in his most simple of endeavors (like trying to find a sweet fanny pack at the local thrift store), but don't get the wrong impression. This isn't a triumphant nerd film (the nerd beats the jocks and/or gets the head cheerleader in the end), but a character-driven slice of weirdness that has a tendency to amuse. The dialogue contains tons of quotable lines, and comes across genuine sense of realism. The composed music by John Swihart and chosen pre-recorded material used to make the soundtrack complemented the film very well. I think my favorite scene is when Napoleon discovers his uncle's crude time machine (which he purchased of the internet), and decides to give it a try...does it work? Well, it does something, but I won't tell you what...one thing I really noticed was an absolute absence of profanity. I'm not against its' usage in films, and have even become used to it (for better or worse), so it was kinda refreshing.The picture quality, presented in both 1.85:1 anamorphic wide screen and 1.33:1 full screen (both sides of the DVD are used), looks sharp and clear, with the Dolby Digital 5.1 audio coming through very well. Special features are numerous and include a commentary track by the director/writer Hess, actor Heder, and producer Jeremy Coon, along with deleted scenes (with optional commentary), a short film entitled `Peluca' (basically the original concept for the character of Napoleon Dynamite, also with commentary), a number of MTV promotional spots, a still gallery, a featurette on the shooting of the final scene (keep watching the film after the credits to see a newly filmed 4 minute sequence shot a year after the film was released, made especially for the DVD release), and a promo for the FOX television series Arrested Development. The special features are split between the two sides of the discs, so be sure to flip it over once you've finished one side. My recommendation is to rent the film before buying, as it's not for everyone (I wouldn't bother showing it to my mother, as I know she wouldn't attempt to understand the where the humor comes from within this film).Cookieman108

I enjoyed the movie so much the first time I watched it that I had to get the DVD. The disc plays without a problem and the image quality looks great. This movie is a must have if you enjoy classic movies!

I love this movie and the dry humor throughout it.

Seriously funny, it literally reminds me of my childhood 🤣

Llegó antes de tiempo y está en español

Muy buena película, me parece que es el mejor papel que ha hecho Jon Heder, luego le sigue Blades of Glory. Esta cinta es para coleccionarse, definitivamente.

On aime cet humour propre aux films indépendants américains. Dans la lignée d'un little miss sunshine ou Juno ce film nous fait sourire et rire du début à la fin !

è un film geniale, consigliatissimo a tutti quelli a cui piacciono film demenziali, non-sense e umorismo surreale. da guardare in compagnia