Napoleon Dynamite

Did I miss something with that movie?

I had heard and read so much good stuff about it, so I went and rented it the other day. What the hell? What was so great about that? I mean, the charecters were really good, but the writing sucked. I don't think they put the charecters is the right situations.

Believe me, I love that kind of humor, but this movie I think just sucked. It had a few good lines, and it really had all of the elements for a good comedy; the sleazy uncle, goofy foreigner, etc.

Seemed like it had a lot of potential, but just missed the mark. Anyway, I don't get what makes this movie so popular. It's like already become a cult-classic!


Somebody please explain it to me.


-Steve

 

Did you watch it by yourself or with some friends? Makes all the difference in the world.

I watched the commentary with it once, and a lot of those situations actually happened to these guys when they were growning up, and they just stuck them in the movie.

Let's see, where does it get it's appeal? I think it's the absurdity of it all. Napoleon is frustrated WAY too easily, but somehow we can relate to that. Napoleon, Pedro, Uncle Rico, the brother, the girl, they are all out of touch with everything and oblivious to the fact. Everyone in the movie marches to the beat of a different drummer. (except the cool people) And it's supposed to be stupid. It's over the top. Like the chicken farmer guy, serving eggs and OJ for lunch. No one would do that. And no one would work for those guys, and actually eat that lunch.
And how bout the steak? Why does Uncle Rico always stand around eating steak? (the actor who played Uncle Rico is a vegetarian, BTW, and had to spit out the meat after each take)
It also made me think about high school. Looking back, high school was absurd. Here you are, forced to be with these people that you hate, and who hate you, yet you somehow try to fit in....WHY THE HECK TRY TO FIT IN SO BADLY, IF I REALLY DON'T LIKE THESE PEOPLE? Isn't that absurd?
And the "cool people". I knew a guy that even looked like that blond-haired guy, who was Valedictorian, popular, good looking, etc, and he was a jerk. He cheated on his schoolwork, and was rude to uncool people like me. Yet those 'cool people' were every bit as absurd as the nerdy folks. THEY were the ones with little or no personality. Who would you rather hang with, those "cool people" or the nerdy folks? I suppose of all of them, I'd like to hang out with Pedro. He was pretty alright.
And, if you want to read something else a little deeper into it, there's the friendship aspect of it between Napoleon and Pedro. They have little or no expectations of eachother, they admire eachother ("I'd vote for ya, you have a great mustache!")and they like eachother just the way they are.
And then Napoleon has the guts to go out in front of that less-then-friendly crowd, and perform the dance of a lifetime! What a friend. And what a killer dance! Bet ya didn't see that coming, I know I didn't!
Okay, hope this helps. you are now sentenced to watching it over and over and over until you love it and can't get enough of it!
Eric


Vote for Pedro!

.

 

Napoleon's Favorite Restaurant

here

 

I personally found it very dumb. I did not look into like that though.
By the way I saw a Vote for Pedro shirt at the mall

 

Napoleon Dynamite was an alright movie some of it was funny, the rest of it was pointless and dumb


Brandon

 

My Daughter bugged us everytime we sat down for a movie to watch it. She bought the DVD. So we did My wife really liked it, I watched about two thirds. I usually like that type of humour, and worse, but it didn't work for me.

 

Same here...normally that type of humor slays me, but I could only handle about 15 minutes of it. My oldest daughter had rented it, and as she didn`t care for it either, and the fact that she turned 21 recently led us to a local watering hole after returning the movie basically unwatched.

 

Me and my brother bought the DVD after he said that his friends + reviews saying it was a good movie.

It is a funny film with not much of a story line...

 

Well----but-------well-----YOU GUYS ARE ALL WRONG!



Just kidding! Just kidding!

I guess me and my friends are just weird......which isn't news to me at all!

 

Don't expect so much from it! It's just a silly, pointless movie about awkward teenagers and people. I loved it; the freshness and originality and absurdity of it all...
I went and saw it with my friend...it was a little known but definitely not as much as now. Vote for Pedro shirts had to be made with iron-ons..you couldn't buy them at a store yet. But we had heard about it, and we went in without knowing what it was about at all...we found ourselves cracking up and looking at each other like, what IS this?! It's fun and yea, very stupid...but it's also a little heartwarming. One thing that probably ruined it for you was all the hype - sometimes you expect way too much and get prejudices before you even rent the movie...and by the time you've watched it, you're really disappointed. Then again, it's not a movie for everyone. Either you like it or you don't.

 

I agree. I loved the movie. Probably because my hair was just like Napolean's at that age, and I was a nerd wirh glasses and nerdy friends. I think the fact that they win in the end (Pedro as president) due to Napolean's dance speaks to the öutsider in all of us, and maybe, just maybe, we can come out on top because of our talents, whatever they may be.

 

Napoleon Dynamite Rocks!

"Your mom goes to college." LOL!

"Girls only like guys with skills, like numchuck skill, bow hunting skill and computer hacking skills."

LOL!

Anyway it really matters on what type of movies you like. If you like serious movies this isnt your kind of movie. But if you like stupied comedies this is your kind of movie.

 

"You're just jealous cuz I've been online all day chatting with babes"

"This one taste's like the cow got into an onion patch".
"That's correct."
"Yessssss."

"Knock it off, Napoleon! Make yerself a dang kaysa-dilla!"

"Tina, you fat lard, come get some dinner! Eat the food! EAT THE FOOD!"

"Take a look at what I'm wearing: You think anyone wants a roundhouse kick to the face while I'm wearing these bad boys? Forget about it! Last off, my students will learn about self respect. Do you think anyone thinks I'm a failure because I go home to Starla at night? FORGET ABOUT IT!"

So many quotable lines, so little time.

 

Ya really the list could go on forever.

"Ever take your bike off any sweat jumps?"

lol

 

I totally agree with you and eclayton.

I really liked it and LAUGHED and LAUGHED. I didn't "expect" anything from it though I had heard from people who thought it was hilarious and who thought it was "dumb".

The "kickball scene" on the extras was classic and I can't believe it didn't make it into the movie...now that was hilarious, especially the way Napoleon "runs" off the field at the end!

 

I agree as well. It was a silly movie and a funny one, easy to watch. It does help to watch it with friends and/or alcohol . . . lol.

"Tina! Come get some ham!"

"Pedro offers you his protection . . . "

 

Did you ever notice how nearly everyone in the movie stands really awkwardly, with their hands just hanging down? NOBODY STANDS LIKE THAT! Hilarious!