Napoleon Dynamite (2004)
He's out to prove he's got nothing to prove.
Starring: Jon Heder, Jon Gries, Aaron Ruell, Efren Ramirez, Diedrich Bader, Tina Majorino, Sandy Martin, Haylie Duff, Trevor Snarr, Shondrella Avery, Bracken Johnson, Carmen Brady, Ellen Dubin, J.C. Cunningham, James Smooth
Director: Jared Hess
Running Time: 82 minutes
US MPAA rating: PGUK BBFC rating: PG
Comedy
Preston, Idaho, the present. After their tough grandmother (Sandy Martin) is injured in a dune-buggy accident, nerdy Napoleon Dynamite (Jon Heder) and his even nerdier 32-year old brother Kip (Aaron Ruell) are left in the dubious care of Uncle Rico (Jon Gries), a sleazy door-to-door salesman who is "living too much in '82". Almost by default, Napoleon meets and befriends new socially-excluded Mexican student Pedro (Efren Ramirez) and geeky amateur photographer Deb (Tina Majorino), and the odd trio manage, against all probability, to have something like a good time together at the school dance. So when hangdog Pedro decides to run in the election for school president against the popular Summer (Haylie Duff), Napoleon offers to help using all his special skills…
The debut feature of director Jared Hess (who co-wrote it with his wife Jerusha), 'Napoleon Dynamite' is a colourfully skew-eyed portrait of extreme misfits, retro kitsch and cultural cringe in rural America - but it is cursed with taking recognisable elements from other films that are better than it is. Like Todd Solondz's 'Welcome to the Dollhouse' (1995), it shows the difficulties faced by school misfits - but without the same venom. Like Alexander Payne's 'Election' (1999), it focusses on a contest for school president - but without the same political satire. And like Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini's
It's Got: Lots of people saying "dang", "sweey" and "jeez", the phrase "our underwater ally" applied to the loch Ness monster, a ham-eating llama called Tina, 'Dance Grooves' videos, magical ligers, chickens with "large talons", egg juice, a perfect politician's wig, performances without cinematic parallel from Jon Heder as Napoleon and the mighty Efren Ramirez as Pedro - and of course 'Rex Kwon Do'.
It Needs: Not to ridicule its main character quite so much - it seems uncomfortably close to laughing at someone for being autistic, retarded, or just plain disturbed.
Alternatives: 'Revenge of the Nerds', 'Welcome to the Dollhouse', 'Election', American Splendor
Summary: A colourfully skew-eyed portrait of extreme misfits, retro kitsch and cultural cringe in rural America, with a main character who is truly unique.
Review Date: 9th December 2004
External Links
Official Web Site
Napoleon Dynamite at the IMDB
Windows MediaTrailer 30K | Trailer 100K
Clips
To download, right click and save media as….
Sweet Jumps (30K) | Sweet Jumps (100K)
Do you dare me to go talk to her (30K) | Do you dare me to go talk to her (100K)
Full Body Shot (30K) | Full Body Shot (100K)
Napoleon Dynamite – the oh so sweet Jon Heder interview
Interview 30K | Interview 100K
Comments22 Comments |
| what the heck is this strong thing anyway? ND is a great movie that is actually just disguised as a fair movie. Look between the lines, beyond the forest, beneath the skin, and above the eyebrows and it will become clear |
| Comment by:- guru | | 22 December 2004 | ip: logged |
| how is strong different from bold sorry to use your site to test this. i'm nu at this and i realy do like your revews |
| Comment by:- guru | | 22 December 2004 | ip: logged |
| its friggin awesome. |
| Comment by:- Leslie | | 26 December 2004 | ip: logged |
| I think the review is missing the confidence in the characters. In the beginning, everyone is introduced as pretty pathetic, hopeless people. With the end, you can see that everyone-Pedro, Deb, Napoleon, Kip, and even Uncle Rico-all find their inner confidence. Plus, it's a pretty LDS movie anyway |
| Comment by:- Ally | | 26 December 2004 | ip: logged |
| This movie is flippin awesome. It is like the best of all time. I wish i was just like Napolien because he is tight. Hes my hero. This is the best movie I have ever seen. I love the dialogue that is used in this movie. Yah theres like a but load of gangs at this school, one wants me to join because im pretty good with a bostaff. And i love the animal the liger to its pretty much my favorite animal to. Well peace ouT. WORD TO YOUR MOTHER. |
| Comment by:- DUSTIN FARDULIS | | 28 December 2004 | ip: logged |
| Napoleon Dynamite is one of the greatest movies of all time. When you watch this, you realize all of the special effects and cussing that other movies have, is not needed. One of the best things about this film is the dialogue, "You're mom goes to college" and "Tina you fat lard, come get some dinner". It's flippin sweet. |
| Comment by:- brittanie | | 28 December 2004 | ip: logged |
| Napoleon Dynamite is THE greatest thing that has ever happened to me. Not really, well ya, pretty much. It celebrates the ordinary and I think that's friggin awesome. And plus, it's totally sweet because it has no bad language in it or stuff like that and Napoleon is really hot. |
| Comment by:- amanda | | 28 December 2004 | ip: logged |
| Its Flippin great! |
| Comment by:- Anonymous | | 29 December 2004 | ip: logged |
| napoleon is the freekin kewl it shows like my life growing up in a small iowa town as a space peanut(geek) in the late 80's pleez check this movie out |
| Comment by:- jezzbo | | 30 December 2004 | ip: logged |
| it was the best movie ever made it was flippin awsome yah |
| Comment by:- Stud Lee | | 30 December 2004 | ip: logged |
| I enjoyed this movie from the beginning. The fact that it did not include sex or foul language made it even more enjoyable and a family film it is. "Anyone wanna bet I can through this football over that mountain?" Thats the best! Gauwd! |
| Comment by:- Tree | | 30 December 2004 | ip: logged |
| wtf u people talking about? it seems all u people see movies in 2 ways, ones that have sex and foul language, and this piece of crap movie so called napoleon dynamite. there are other movies that are WAYYY better htan this waste of money and do not have sex or foul language in it. U posers who "want" to be like napoleon, omg, shut the hell up. this movie sucked. |
| Comment by:- anonymous | | 31 December 2004 | ip: logged |
| What is a bodagit? |
| Comment by:- LastGreatHyphae | | 31 December 2004 | ip: logged |
| Napoleon Dynamite is a wonderful movie. You have to watch it more than once to love it. I know I did. First I thought it sucked, and it has a relatively HIGH HIGH amount of dry humour. But it has loveable characters, and a great storyline. ENJOY! |
| Comment by:- Jessy | geocities.com/reckless_jessy... | 31 December 2004 | ip: logged |
| Your right, its a good movie.It does'nt have anything bad in it or about it.Just plain funny. Watch it over and over to find funny hidden gems to laugh at. |
| Comment by:- Snap on mom | | 31 December 2004 | ip: logged |
| Thank you, ma'am. <3 ^_^ |
| Comment by:- Jessy | geocities.com/reckless_jessy... | 31 December 2004 | ip: logged |
| What makes this film so great is that it embraces the nerds/geeks of society. Someone as seemingly pathetic as Kip can find a "soulmate" and Pedro can become class president. Funny funny stuff too...(the wedding is AMAZING!) "I love technology, I love you more you see, but I still love technology, always and forever!" Heck Yes! |
| Comment by:- kat | | 01 January 2005 | ip: logged |
| Napoleon Dynamite was terrible it had so point, didn't make sense and if u watch it you eill want your money back!!! |
| Comment by:- carmen | www.myspace.ccom | 01 January 2005 | ip: logged |
| i saw this movie in theaters along time ago. i loved it but only for its funny lines and dorky humor. i then saw the dvd at a friends house. the more you watch it the more you can really conect with the characters. i think what people who don't like it don't like is that its so real. its exactly how normal people live. its not beefed up to become interesting. its just what it is, which is what makes it aweomse. oh yah and i don't care waht anyone says, deb is super hot. shes my soulmate |
| Comment by:- chris | | 01 January 2005 | ip: logged |
| My God... I went to this site to see what this movie is about because the commercials don't really tell you anything about it... I came here and find you losers sulking over what I see as the dumbest movie of all time! What is the point?! Some loser goes on an adventure and goes to a dance? And whats wrong with some of you?! I quote: "Deb is super hot. She's my soulmate." and "Napoleon is my hero." Jesus Crist... Get a life you losers... |
| Comment by:- fishin | www.gbxemu.com | 02 January 2005 | ip: logged |
| This review completely misses the mark. The movie is not social commentary--or at least I didn't take it as such. To me, ND was just intended to be funny. Trying to interpret it as social commentary and faulting it because we laugh too much at its characters is missing the point of this movie totally. ND is the funniest movie without jokes that I have ever seen. Don't over-analyze it. |
| Comment by:- porridge | | 03 January 2005 | ip: logged |
| Odd, different, and hilarioius, Napoleon Dynamite is extremely funny! I recommend checking it out... |
| Comment by:- gilletbd1977 | www.thedvdreport.com/dvd_revie... | 07 March 2005 | ip: logged |
