NAPOLEON DYNAMITE
US, 2004, 86 minutes, Colour.
Jon Heder, Jon Gries, Efren Ramirez, Aaron Ruell, Diedrich Bader, Tina Majorino.
Directed by Jared Hess.
With a title like that, it has to be offbeat. It is.
Setting is Idaho and, I am afraid, the film is not conducive to buying tickets to visit that state. It seems flat and endless, with the usual small town, high school and shops, a bit like Anywheresville. Maybe, that’s the kind of setting for a guy like Napoleon.
Napoleon (Jon Heder) is a nerd, a geek or whatever the current word is for a tall, moppy red-headed, bespectacled gangly and gawky adolescent with a penchant for saying the wrong or obnoxious thing. He has a (very) short bespectacled brother who eventually experiences a makeover during his girlfriend’s visit – she is tall, black, sexy and from Detroit. He has a semi-sleazy salesman uncle.
He is looked down on by the jocks, despised by the beauty queens and, generally, seems to have nothing to offer. However, he grows on us and we really do hope that he will get on well with the nice girl who thinks he is wonderful (she does not judge just on appearances!) and find his way in life. And he makes every effort so that his Hispanic classmate will win the school student presidency.
This has ‘cult film’ all over it – and it seems already to be headed that way with box-office beyond expectations. It is small-budget (with the boom making frequent appearances at the top of the frame) with child star Tina Majorino the only name member of the cast.
Not necessary viewing but the film has a certain ditzy charm that is sometimes quite beguiling.
1.The reputation of the film? Its cult status? Popular and box office success?
2.The Idaho settings, location photography, the bright colour, the plains, the mountains, the fields, the small town, idiosyncratic? The pride in the state of Idaho? Idaho as an American state – and Americana?
3.The authentic feel of homes, fields, the high school etc? Yet the comic perspective, on the school, classes, feeding the llama, Uncle Rico’s caravan, the martial arts class? An appropriate setting for Napoleon Dynamite?
4.The portrait of Napoleon: the geek, his background, family, his brother, grandmother, uncle? Awkward, body stance and body language, his mode of speaking, his hair, teeth, glasses? At home and his room? His love for his grandmother? Relying on Kip? Antagonism towards his uncle? The girls at the school, friendship with Deb, the bullies, the headmaster, his drawings and the gift to the girlfriend? The dance, with Deb? Taking his girlfriend – and going in the car?
5.His character, age, his speeches in class, the mime with the girls, his ability to dance, especially learning in his room, the failure at the martial arts class? Hit at school, the llama? Deb and her sales, the friendship, her photos? His friendship with Pedro?
6.Pedro, Latin-American?, appearance, moustache, his deadpan way of speaking, the lack of overt communication, friendship with Napoleon? Making the cake for Summer and her rejection? Deb and her acceptance? His cousins and their instilling fear – and getting the bullies to leave? His becoming sick, shaving his head, the choice of the wigs? His standing for president? His campaigning with Napoleon? At the dance with Deb, allowing Napoleon to dance? His speech for the presidency, awkwardness, Napoleon dancing – and the acclaim?
7.Kip, older brother, small, awkward, love of technology, his moustache, the martial arts class and his being hit, seeing it as a rip-off? His way of life, his relationship with Uncle Rico, helping him with the sales? His correspondence with La Faunduh? Her arrival, the contrast between the two, the sexual attraction, his necklace, the change of clothes, the farewell?
8.Uncle Rico, type, football, his regrets? Looking after the boys, the relationship with Grandma? His exercise, throwing the ball? His selling, the attraction towards the woman, the ship and the testing of the bowls? Kip running over one? Flirtatious, angry, the clash with Napoleon, getting his photo taken by Deb?
9.Summer as the typical queen of the school, standing for president, her girlfriends, her boyfriend, their all being superior? Her inane speech for her election? The dance?
10.Deb, awkward, trying to sell the goods, leaving them at Napoleon’s door, her skill in taking the photos, friendship with Pedro, the cake, going to the dance, dancing with Napoleon? Supporting Napoleon? Uncle Rico and the notice about the bust, her phone call to Napoleon? Her happy with Pedro’s election?
11.The episodic nature of the film, the comic touches?
12.The acclaim for Napoleon and Pedro at the end? Optimistic future?
13.The postscript after the credits, the wedding, La Faunduh and her delight in being married, Kip? The guests, La Faunduh’s family and friends? Kip’s family and friends? Deb present? Napoleon arriving on the horse, the couple riding off to a happy wedding? An offbeat happy ending?
