Napoleon Dynamite
Napoleon Dynamite

Napoleon Dynamite

2004Movie95 minEnglish

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.

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Insights

IMDb6.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes67%
Metacritic64/100
Google Users82%
Director: Jared HessGenres: Comedy, Coming-of-age

Plot Summary

In rural Idaho, the awkward and eccentric Napoleon Dynamite navigates the peculiar challenges of high school, family, and friendship. With his best friend Pedro by his side, Napoleon pursues his dream of winning the student body presidency. Along the way, he encounters a cast of equally quirky characters, including his grandmother, his Uncle Rico, and his llama, Tina. The film follows Napoleon's unique journey to find his place and express himself in a world that often misunderstands him.

Critical Reception

Napoleon Dynamite was a surprise sleeper hit, garnering a cult following for its offbeat humor and distinctive characters. While some critics found its style of comedy too niche or peculiar, many praised its originality, sincerity, and deadpan delivery. The film resonated with audiences who appreciated its quirky charm and unique take on teenage awkwardness.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its unique and quirky sense of humor that relies on deadpan delivery and awkward situations.
  • Applauded for its memorable and eccentric characters, particularly Napoleon Dynamite himself.
  • Some critics found the humor too strange or inaccessible, leading to a divisive reception.

Google audience: Google users generally enjoyed Napoleon Dynamite for its hilarious and awkward humor, finding the characters and their interactions to be refreshingly original and funny. Many appreciated the film's quirky charm and its unique take on high school life, although a smaller segment found the comedy to be too peculiar.

Fun Fact

The iconic dance scene at the end of the movie was originally intended to be performed by another character, but director Jared Hess decided Jon Heder's Napoleon Dynamite would be a better fit and added it specifically for him.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

2 reviews
portman123

portman123

Original, unique, bizarre, hilarious! * I love all the whacky and authentic and heartwarming characters from this movie. * I think it has a kind of bedroom pop vibe to it. Alot of bedroom pop music videos look and feel similar with the ...
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

Jon Heder is the eponymous high school student who lives with his brother "Kip" (Aaron Ruell) at the home of his grandmother (Sandy Martin). Now she's a bit of a game girl and manages to come off her buggy whilst racing in the sand dunes an...