The first thing you need to know about Napoleon Dynamite is that he has skills. All the rest is just frosting on the cake.
"Napoleon Dynamite" is the indie movie success story of the year, and does for rural Idaho what "Clerks" did for New Jersey, without the language, violence or sex. And it's in colour. And it has true love, dancing, democracy, martial arts, and self-fulfillment.
Made for $400,000, "Napoleon Dynamite" has made over $43 million before the release of the sweet DVD two weeks ago. Directed and written by Jared Hess, and filmed in his hometown of Preston, Idaho, "Napoleon Dynamite" is a somewhat static, almost documentary-feeling movie centred around the title character. Napoleon is a gawky high-school student who lives with his grandmother, older brother Kip, who is searching for love on the internet, and later, Uncle Rico. Napoleon makes a new friend, Pedro, and supports him on his campaign to become student president. Not a lot of plot or standard jokes, the movie is very low-key, but sweet. Well, there is the small role by Diedrich Bader as Rex Kwon-Do, who kicks serious ass. Think of it as the Sparkle Hands Players tribute to Robert Altman.
The DVD includes a commentary which shows how much is gleaned from growing up in rural Idaho, and has a couple of deleted scenes. The commentary reveals how much of the movie comes from reality (Uncle Rico's van is from Preston, Napoleon's moon boots are from an uncle, Hess's brother actually bought a mail-order time machine on the internet, and so on). Unlike Neil LaBute, another writer with a background in the LDS, Hess likes people, and, for all their obliviousness to their lack of cool, has a real affection for the characters.
If you have spent any time living in a rural community, "Napoleon Dynamite" will feel very familiar to you. A current example in Canada is the most popular Canadian sitcom, "Corner Gas", set in the fictional Saskatchewan town of Dog River, where you can watch your dog run away for three days.
Article comments
1 - Eric Berlin
I saw this film for the first time today, and I agree with just about everything you have to say about it. There's almost a refreshing innocence about this film, and my wife and I both found ourselves reminded of simpler days, growing up (in the 70s/80s for our parts), stretched out afternoons of sun and pondering.
Eric Berlin
Dumpster Bust: Miracles from Mind Trash
2 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
Great stuff Jim, and i totally agree. Also, i have your good self, in no small part, to thank for convincing me to get off my arse and see the damn thing. It was indeed sweet. I've heard critics yack about how it's about mocking the "weird", but like you say, there's an obvious compasion here, something that elavates it above the likes of, say, Saved.
Great stuff.
3 - Eric Berlin
I actually really like Saved as I thought it had a really strong feel for modern youth culture. As a non-Christian, I can't speak to the religious aspect, but I thought it was funny and actually had a good measure of compassion for those outside the "norm" (which, in that film, were the "heretics" or non-saved).
~ Eric B.
4 - MrPC
I think it's unfair to compare Napoleon Dynamite to Saved.
Saved is more like Election. Saved attacks, via satire, hypocriical Christians.
Election attacks, via satire, preppy good-two shoes annoying go-getters.
Napoleon Dynamite is a light hearted comedy (with intricate characters), while Saved and Election are edgier.
That doesn't make ND better than Saved, just different.
ND and Saved! are apples and oranges.
5 - Eric Berlin
I agree to a large extent: they are both "high school comedies" but with very different sensibilities and focus.
That being said, they're both unique and intelligent and successful high school comedies, which puts them, ironically, together in a smallish group of films.
6 - Jim Carruthers
Dennis Quaid was on "The Daily Show" tonight promoting "In Good Company" and he was wearing a "Vote For Pedro" tshirt.
I'm seeing "In Good Company" tomorrow, so if it has werewolves, it could be the best movie, ever.
7 - Bob
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@
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8 - drew
www.dontbejealousthativebeenchattingonlinewithbabesallday.com
9 - Phillip Winn
Nice, Drew, thanks!