Napoleon Dynamite (2004)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Jared Hess

Writers:

Jared Hess (written by) and
Jerusha Hess (written by)

Release Date:

27 August 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

He's out to prove he's got nothing to prove.

Plot:

A listless and alienated teenager decides to help his new friend win the class presidency in their small western high school, while he must deal with his bizarre family life back home.

Plot Keywords:

High School | Jock | Class President | Idaho | Rejection

Awards:

10 wins & 18 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sun. Nov. 15	9:00 PM	COMEDY
Mon. Nov. 16	5:00 PM	COMEDY

Cast

Jon Heder	...	Napoleon Dynamite
Jon Gries	...	Uncle Rico
Aaron Ruell	...	Kip
Efren Ramirez	...	Pedro
Diedrich Bader	...	Rex
Tina Majorino	...	Deb
Sandy Martin	...	Grandma
Haylie Duff	...	Summer Wheatly
Trevor Snarr	...	Don
Shondrella Avery	...	Lafawnduh
Bracken Johnson	...	Randy
Carmen Brady	...	Starla
Ellen Dubin	...	Ilene
J.C. Cunningham	...	Jock #1
James Stevens	...	Jock #2 (as James Smooth)

MPAA:

Rated PG for thematic elements and language.

Runtime:

82 min | USA:86 min (Sundance Film Festival) | Canada:86 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG (certificate no. 40773) | Ireland:PG | Iceland:L | Germany:o.Al. | Netherlands:6 | Portugal:M/6 | Canada:G (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Québec) | South Africa:PG | New Zealand:PG | Canada:PG (Nova Scotia/Ontario) | South Korea:15 | Australia:PG | Finland:K-7 | Singapore:PG | UK:PG

Filming Locations:

Franklin, Idaho, USA

Company:

Fox Searchlight Pictures

Trivia:

Jon Heder's big dance scene was the last scene scheduled and film ran out while shooting it. The sequence was edited together from less than 10 minutes of his dancing.

Goofs:

Continuity: When giving back Deb's stuff which she left on Napoleon's porch, a piece of paper falls out. But in the next shot, it disappears and then reappears again in the third shot.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Kid on Bus: What are you gonna do today, Napoleon?
Napoleon Dynamite: Whatever I feel like I wanna do. Gosh!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Howard Stern on Demand: Dustin Diamond Needs Money" (2006)

Soundtrack:

So Ruff, So Tuff

Awesome!

I have to say I was so intrigued by the mixed responses to this film on this board I had to see it. In my opinion it was the best movie I have seen in years. I am so tired of the typical BS Hollywood crap, and this movie was far from that. Napoleon was indeed dynamite! The first couple minutes I was kinda worried that the naysayers were right, but as the movie continued I couldn't stop laughing! And for those how think that it was wrong to exploit the nerds in society, you definitely missed the whole point of the movie. It wasn't exploited them, it was more celebrating them and their uniqueness. And as for being unrealistic, this movie was more realistic than any movie I have seen. That was part of what made it hilarious. Not doubt this will be a cult classic! GO NAPOLEON!

I give this film a 10 out of 10