I had the good fortune of seeing this at a friend's place last night. I loved it because it's so...offbeat. One thing that gives it that feeling is that there's almost no background music. That, and, it has a feeling of being set in the past and the present at the same time: the VCRs, tape players, and TVs look like they were made in the mid 80s or earlier, everyone's clothing looks really dated, and people use passé phrases like "retarded." But at the same time there are references to internet chat rooms, and at one point a Backstreet Boys song plays.
The movie follows this high school loser (the title character) in some rural Idaho town. He's got a loser brother (32 years old but not on his own yet), an uncle who comes up with get-rich-quick schemes, and a friend named Pedro who seems to be the only Mexican at the school. The "plot" (which is only a small piece of the movie, really) involves Pedro running for class president. But the appeal of this movie comes from it's just being so off the wall.
First time I saw this, I didn't know what to think; I mostly just stared as one would at a painting one doesn't understand.
Second time, I started to laugh, and appreciate the performances, especially by Jon Gries.
Third time, I started to enjoy the movie. It's perfect for a boring afternoon when you want something both gently and wildly offbeat to fill a couple hours.
Napoleon Dynamite has, to a large extent, taken over my college campus. I don't think I've gone a day for the past two months at least where I haven't heard at least one person exclaim "GOSH!" or "You guys are retarded!" or "Like anyone could even know that!" or something esle. Is that person occasionally me? Yeah.
Luckyy....
I just finished the movie this morning for the first time (what a lousy spring break I'm having- blah!).
Maybe it's just me, but it was not that funny. Mainly just weird and offbeat. And really really sad, borderline pathetic. Oh well, there's worse ways to spend a morning, I guess, like watching The Real World or Nick and Jessica. Ugh! Curse that MTV!! Curse it I say!!!
BTW, if you are looking for something really funny, try reading the fake travel guide "Molvania- A Land Untouched by Modern Dentistry." I laugh out loud every single time I've read it. Visit the website first @ www.movlania.com. Or just Google Jet-lag Travel.
My family just watched this movie a few days ago. We constantly quote it and antagonize each other.
While Mom was baking cookies, Dad came into the kitchen and asked what she was doing. "Roasting a pig, what do you think?" she replied with a perfect poker face.