Napoleon Dynamite

Napoleon Dynamite



Some films arrive amid a torrent of hype and advertising. Everywhere you turn you’re hit with billboards and commercials telling you about the next ‘greatest film of all time’. Then there are those films that come straight out of left field, recommended to you by word of mouth. That sort of advertising can’t be bought because it relies solely on the film’s quality. One such film is Napoleon Dynamite.

Dynamite (Jon Heder) is the geekiest of the geeks; A buck-toothed, ginger-permed dork who tucks his T-shirt in. Delighting in random pleasures like dragging action figures on a string behind the school bus. He lives at home with his Grandmother and his likewise geeky older brother.
When their grandmother is injured in a quad biking accident, Uncle Rico comes to look after them. Rico is the quintessential High-school Jock who can’t grow up, making Napoleon’s life hell.

At school, Napoleon makes new friends with Pedro, a Mexican pupil with ambitions of being school president. Napoleon decides to use his ‘Skills’ to help Pedro win. Along the way they stand up to the school bullies and protect their fellow geeks.

Napoleon also befriends Pam, an oddball chick, who could be his ideal girlfriend if he ever made any romantic moves. Luckily for us, this film isn’t about him finding a sweetheart. No, this is all about him proving geeks can be cool too.

If anyone ever recommends this film to you, like I am now, they’ll definitely mention the final dance scene. Having honed his skills to a video he finds in a thrift shop, Napoleon defends his friend Pedro’s honour by dancing.

Jon Heder is Napoleon Dynamite. Once you see this, I dare you to imagine another actor playing the part. He inhabits the character as though he were the subject of a true-life documentary. It’s a pity that his debut was so strong, overshadowing all his other roles.

Verdict 9/10
Now you’re told, there’s no excuse.