“Napoleon Dynamite” (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
“Napoleon Dynamite” is a low budget, independent film that is slowly making its way into theaters all across the country. The buzz on this movie is so good that it is drawing in good size audiences everywhere it plays. The question is why It is a bizarre film about life among the nerds of the world, and though it features fairly good talent in the acting roles it is a dull film from start to finish.
Napoleon (Jon Heder) is a nerdy high school student who lives with his grandmother and brother Kip (Aaron Ruell). In school he is always the outsider and he has no friends, until he meets a new student at the school named Pedro (Efren Ramirez). They form an alliance and eventually include Deb (Tina Marjorino).
Napoleon’s grandmother is in an accident and while she is in the hospital Uncle Rico (Jon Gries) comes to stay with the two boys. He is a man who lives in the past and dreams about what might have been if his football team had been state champions.
Nothing much happens in the movie. There are just scenes after scenes of Napoleon’s awkwardness, and a few about Kip’s Internet romances. There is no plot and when the movie ends nothing of consequence has happened. Even if you stay through the credits for some added on scenes, nothing happens.
Heder is very good as Napoleon. He has a unique style and attitude. Whether it would play in other roles or not is yet to be seen. Haylie Duff, who is Hilary’s sister, is featured in a small role as a girl named Summer.
The movie is rated PG for mild profanity.
There is nothing dynamic about “Napoleon Dynamite.” It is a slow moving movie that has a few laughs every now and then. This is a case of someone seeing something in the movie and then everyone else trying to get in on the bandwagon. Hey folks! The emperor isn’t wearing any clothes!
I scored “Napoleon Dynamite” a dud 4 out of 10.
