Napoleon Dynamite

[Bruiser Chong 0]

My brother has been pimping this flick since he got home from school, so naturally, he got the DVD the day it dropped. I watched it with him over the course of the last two days and it's definitely an acquired taste. The humor is very dry and people who want humor that's spelled out of them, well, this ain't your movie.

 

I liked it, but that's because I tend to like quirky little movies such as this, although I didn't think it was as great as some have said it is. His character is so over-the-top nerdy, as is the abuse he takes. At times, I found it almost depressing just because I've known people like that (although, not to such an extreme). But his good nature attitude keeps it from turning into some sad melodrama about not fitting in.

 

Can't say I'll ever go get it for myself, but the movie was far from shit. Glad to see it's doing so well on the DVD market, though.

[LivingLegendGaryColeman 0]

I loved this movie when I drove 40 minutes away to see it on its Limited Release Opening Day and I loved it again when I watched the DVD. The deleted scenes are awesome as well. I would recommend getting the DVD if not just to see the deleted kickball scene.

[Guest Retro Rob]

I thought the movie was a piece of crap to be honest, and I tend to like strange comedies, like stuff by Christopher Guest. This was just a bunch of unlikeable characters delivering lines with no real emotion whatsoever for an hour and a half. I couldn't stand most of the characters (Kip, Uncle Rico, Napoleon) and there was absolutely no point. If lacking a purpose is what makes a movie funny, then how about somebody films me for a few hours, and maybe that too could gross $40,000,000. I don't know, maybe it's just me, but I would have labeled this the worst movie of 2004 if it wasn't for You Got Served.

[Youth N Asia 0]

I wouldn't mind the movie so much if it weren't for the people who do like it defending it with, "it must be too smart for you" or something along those lines. Where as I think it's overly simple and gets people to laugh at stuff that doesn't even resemble funny.

[Guest Retro Rob]

Yeah, I was on IMDB before and someone said something like "Well, obviously you are not smart enough to get a smart comedy like this one. You can keep on watching your big Hollywood blockbusters instead." If THAT was smart comedy, then I am truly out of touch.

[King Kamala 0]

I don't think it's smart comedy all and this is coming from someone who saw it in theaters three times. It's very hit or miss, very dry humor. I guess some people think dry humor=smart humor, but I don't believe that's the case.

[Sideburnious 0]

I enjoyed it and thought it was funny but I will admit that the movie is lacking a plot and storyline. I mean the one they have is just basically falling their lives, as theres no other purpose to what they do.

What made it funny for me though is that napoleons attitude/mannarisms and bullshit really reminded me of someone I know which made it more funny.

[Guest BrokenWings]

I think therein lies the true humor in the movie - if you haven't met someone who resembles this, then it's not nearly as funny as compared to those who have.

 

I found the movie incredibly funny, and personally my favourite part was when the guy asked Napoleon for some of his tots, and Napoleon refuses and so the guy kicks him in the leg, squishing all his tots in the process. Napoleon just sighs and goes "friggin' IDIOT!"

 

Gold.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

Watched it again tonight with my brother, some of his friends and my cousin. Have to say it was a lot funnier the second time around, but it definitely lacks a real plot and is quite random.

 

And was I the only one who thought that half of the deleted scenes were as funny as anything else in the movie? I believe the timing reason for cutting them, but I can find plenty of things that made the cut that could've been tossed aside in favor of some of the deleted scenes. The kickball and thrift shop/convience store scenes were excellent.

[Art Sandusky 0]

So I finally downloaded it and gave it a watch.

 

Just... ugh. A film that, for me personally, was like Rushmore. A film that was pimped to me endlessly any time I'd say that I meant to see it at some point because it looked very intriguing, but sweet Jesus was I underwhelmed when I finally saw it. It was almost an overblown version of the already overblown portrayals of high school life.

 

Only thing that got me really good (as in an actual out-loud laugh compared to the three times I sort of chuckled elsewhere during) was his "Yes" to the video asking if he was ready to get his groove on.

 

Dreadfully unlikeable people all around, and people whose next moves I could almost predict because of their paper-thin roles. I think I liked the uncle for a split-second at the beginning, but that was it. Oh, I liked Pedro's cousins too.

 

I don't ask for a lot from movies, but at least give me a reason to keep watching. I wanted to punch Napoleon near the end, not being able to take his completely drab and lifeless character much longer. Not the worst movie I've ever seen by far, but really not good at all.

[Guest SP-1]

Watched it again tonight with my brother, some of his friends and my cousin. Have to say it was a lot funnier the second time around, but it definitely lacks a real plot and is quite random.

 

And was I the only one who thought that half of the deleted scenes were as funny as anything else in the movie? I believe the timing reason for cutting them, but I can find plenty of things that made the cut that could've been tossed aside in favor of some of the deleted scenes. The kickball and thrift shop/convience store scenes were excellent.

I'm pretty sure the lack of plot was intentional. It just seems to follow their lives for a few weeks to showcase just how strange this place, and its people, are. It's just . . . misfits living from day to day. It's actually one of the things I really like about it, personally.

[Edwin MacPhisto 0]

Just... ugh. A film that, for me personally, was like Rushmore. A film that was pimped to me endlessly any time I'd say that I meant to see it at some point because it looked very intriguing, but sweet Jesus was I underwhelmed when I finally saw it.

Watch Rushmore again. You'll like it more. Or you will be a dumb box of hair.

[Art Sandusky 0]

Just... ugh. A film that, for me personally, was like Rushmore. A film that was pimped to me endlessly any time I'd say that I meant to see it at some point because it looked very intriguing, but sweet Jesus was I underwhelmed when I finally saw it.

Watch Rushmore again. You'll like it more. Or you will be a dumb box of hair.

I guess I'm a dumb box of hair, because I've tried again since then. It's just... there. Really not superlative to me.

[Damaramu 0]

I just saw it for the first time tonight.

 

I thought it was a really funny movie and yes I have met people like that.

 

I liked the fact there was no plot. I used to always want a comedy that had absolutely no plot and was just a random assortment of day to day life.

Well this still sort of had a plot....

[Myxamatosis 0]

A Review

 

 

By Travis Coleman

 

“Napoleon Dynamite” is one of the best films of the year. And yet it has no semblance of a plot.

 

Director and writer Jared Hess’ film is a “Seinfield” for the big screen. It’s a movie about nothing. It’s an aimless series of events.

 

But even with the lack of organized direction, the film works wonderfully as a random succession of dealings featuring high school student Napoleon Dynamite (Jon Heder).

 

The campy and retro imagery comes from present-day Preston, Idaho. The style, slang and mannerisms all look to be straight out of the late '70s or early '80s. But they add a tacky texture to the film that makes it even funnier.

 

The dialogue between Napoleon and his exchange-student friend, Pedro (Efren Ramirez), is side-splitting.

 

Napoleon and Pedro’s monotone one-liners work astoundingly well and don’t get repetitive in the least. No film in recent memory has featured such a plethora of rapid-fire one-liners.

 

The film has been a major success for independent films this past summer, making over $30 million at the box office.

 

Taking a deeper look into the film garners even more obscure and unusual gems.

 

—The film credits are the longest in movie history; as all 181 student extras’ names are listed in the closing credits.

 

—The name “Napoleon Dynamite” was used by Elvis Costello as an alias for his 1986 album, “Blood and Chocolate.” Executive producer Jeremy Coon said it was a coincidence that the film and album share the name and that he was unaware of Costello’s usage of it until the film was in production.

 

—Also, every food dish used in the opening credits is a one eaten by a character later in the movie.

 

Anyone who checks this film out should be forewarned about two things: This film is liable to bust your gut, and stick around after the credits for a surprise: a wedding scene between Napoleon's brother Kip and his Internet sweetheart, LaFawnduh.

 

This film is both bizarrely unique and has "cult classic" written all over it.

 

It’s kind of like a “Rocky Horror Picture Show” for our generation.

 

Travis Coleman, Ponca Tribe of Nebraska, attends the University of South Dakota in Vermillion. He is a graduate of the Freedom Forum’s American Indian Journalism Institute.

[Art Sandusky 0]

No, no, no, no.

 

Don't dare even SUGGEST another fucking Rocky Horror Picture Show for another generation. One is more than we need.

[Phoenix Fury Legdrop 0]

Saw it for the second time tonight (the first being when it came out in theaters). It held up alright, though half of the one-liners seemed to benefit a lot from the "out of nowhere" factor they had the first time you see the movie.

 

I can kind of agree with the rip on the amount of unlikeable characters, but I also think the movie gets its charm out of trying to get the best out of those who don't have many redeeming qualities. Then again, if you seriously think Deb and Pedro are unlikeable, you have no soul and enjoy stomping babies' heads until they flatten.

 

The one actor I think got a totally raw deal out of this whole thing is Diedrich Bader, who I thought was absolutely hilarious in the brief time he got during the movie. The commercial where he no-sells the shot to the nuts and puts the woman in a headlock and chokes her out was damn funny, as was him making an example out of Kip in the "dojo".

 

 

Although for some reason this line killed me.

 

When Deb shows up at the door for the first time trying to sell crap to Napoleon.

 

"I'm trying to save money for college."

 

Then Nap's brother mutters "Your mom goes to college" in the background and just gets this shit grin on his face like it was the greatest line ever.

 

 

That was brilliance, indeed.

[Nighthawk 0]

No, no, no, no.

 

Don't dare even SUGGEST another fucking Rocky Horror Picture Show for another generation. One is more than we need.

I agree with this.

[Guest The Winter Of My Discontent]

As if people haven't encountered at least one person in high school who was a gigantic spaz like Napoloen? One who has no social skills, and lacks the fundamental elements to relate to those around him. Only Kip, who is fucking ridiculous, understands him...and he's a bigger knob than Napoleon.

 

And Rushmore is a joyous experience, not unlike getting a handjob in your choir partner's mom's Jagyaar.

[Nighthawk 0]

You were in choir? Queer.

[UseTheSledgehammerUh 0]

I bought the DVD last night before going to see Meet the Fockers.

 

I watched it tonight with a couple of friends. We laughed at a few parts, but overall, not a very good movie.

 

Been dissapointed with both films.

 

Still, I kinda drew an abstract from it. Like, even if you have no life, the things you do encounter can mean a lot. Such as Pedro. Napoleon changed his life for the better, which is more than a lot of "normal" people can do for their friends. By helping someone else, Napoleon saved him, may have changed the views of many of his classmates, and also won his girl friend back.

 

Still, the La Fawna chick thing was STUPID.

 

I liked the pinata scene.

 

And Hillary Duff's sister is hot.

[Mole 0]

Ugh, this movie was horrible. There was NO plot. I'm sorry, but movies that don't have plots aren't movies. Like someone else said, it was just a bunch of skits put together to make a "movie."

 

I did laugh at a few parts, but as a movie, it was horrible. Probably, the worst movie I saw from 2004. Horrible, horrible, horrible.

 

D-

[Slayer 0]

Saw it today. Loved it. 'Nuff said.

[Nighthawk 0]

I watched it high and almost died. I'm not one to point stuff out like this often, but it was a big enough difference that I should.

[Downhome 0]

I have a quick question for everyone:

 

To those of you who loved it, have you ever actually known (or been) anyone like Napoleon or any of the others? I think one reason that I loved it so much is because I've known people like that in my life, and some very well.

[Guest The Winter Of My Discontent]

The fact Bob Barron and Use the Sledgehammer both hate the movie reaffirms my love for it, and allows me to feel comfortable with my tastes.

[bob_barron 0]

I liked the movie a lot Banky

[Guest The Winter Of My Discontent]

I liked the movie a lot Banky

typo, I meant molestomp

 

but i generally disagree with you in a lot of instances. what gives?

[Guest Brian]

It works really well around the lack of a plot in a silly kind of way. I'm not sure if its enough, but it's good for what it is.

[bob_barron 0]

I guess we just have different views on stuff Banky