Movie Review : Napoleon Dynamite

What can I say about this movie? I had seen some of the previews for it a while back when it was in theaters, but I never really knew what to expect out of it. I had no idea what the plot was, other than it centered around a kid named Napoleon Dynamite. Jenn and I watched it over the break, and the more I think about it, the more I really liked it.

Now, before you run out and rent it, let me temper that comment. This movie is not for everyone. It is not your typical hollywood fare with big action, special effects, laugh out loud comedy, or any of the usual stuff. This movie is slow and dry. It kind of struck a chord with me though. Napoleon is a total outcast at his school. He is a bit of a rube, but he has a mild level of self-confidence that allows him to persevere. That, and a wildly overactive imagination that leads him to believe in things like Ligers (a cross between a lion and a tiger) and his own expertise with a bow staff. All of the dialogue in the film is delivered in a very monotonic fashion. The language is clean (no swear words). When you sit and think about what some of the characters said, the comedy just gets better and better though.

The story of the film, if there is one, is one of geeky triumph. Napoleon and his friend Pedro team up to get Pedro elected as class president. Pedro is running against one of the popular girls at school: Summer. Pedro had made an unsuccessful attempt at wooing Summer early in the film, but it doesn't really factor into his reason for running.

I think I like this film because I can identify with parts of it, and because it reminds me of some of the kids I went to school with. I wasn't a total freak, but I wasn't running with the most popular clique either. Some of the kids who rode my bus were deep into their Dungeons and Dragons fantasy. Scenes from the movie reminded me of those people and those times. I think that's why I liked it. That, and I like goofy stuff from time to time.