Napoleon Dynamite Review

by Laura Clifford (laura AT reelingreviews DOT com)
June 12th, 2004
NAPOLEON DYNAMITE
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A defiant cadre of misfits take their place among the high school jocks and low riders of Preston, Idaho. When his grandmother (Sandy Martin, "One Night at McCool's') is hospitalized after an dirt bike riding accident, one such teen, despite the agonizing obstacles placed in his way by con man Uncle Rico (Jon Gries, "Northfork"), gets his best friend elected school president and gets the girl. His name is "Napoleon Dynamite."

This goofy American original works largely due to the determined weirdness of star Jon Heder, who creates a truly unique character. Heder is such a master of comic timing and physical ability that it will be intriguing to see how and if his talents will be utilized by other filmmakers. Cowriting brothers Jerusha and Jared (who also directed) Hess have used their own hometown to good effect, but their story weakens whenever focus strays away from their titular creation.

We're introduced to the carrot-fro'ed, ski boot wearing Napoleon as he boards the school bus. 'What are you doing today?' asks a much younger rider. 'Anything I want!' Napoleon retorts aggressively before tossing a plastic action man on a string out the window to drag along behind the bus. Napoleon protects himself from more averagely normal students with a cocoon of stories so bizarre they might be true, like how he spent his summer in Alaska with his uncle hunting wolverines, but he still weakens from high school's onslaught, calling brother Kip (Aaron Ruell) to pick him up or at least bring him his chapstick. Kip demurs, too busy at the moment making nachos before a session cruising chat rooms for love.

When Uncle Rico arrives to tend to the boys (Napoleon's a senior and Kip much older), his money-making schemes, which include selling bust enlargements, embarrass Napoleon in front of his friends and the two frequently engage in violent exchanges (somehow the Hess brothers make Rico flinging a steak in Napoleon's face funny). But Rico and Kip's adventures (Kip romances the unlikely Lafawnda (Shondrella Avery) from Detroit) aren't as amusing as Napoleon's adventures with Pedro (Efren Ramirez, "Jury Duty"), a Mexican transfer student who thinks he can romance the school's most popular girl, Summer Wheatley (Haylie Duff, sister of Hilary), by baking her a cake. Tina Majorino ("Waterworld") provides the film's geeky heart as Deb, an aspiring portrait photographer who wears her hair in one ponytail on the side of her head and who quietly yearns for Napoleon.
The brother's screenplay largely works, although they can't resist side trips with characters like local 'Rex Kwan Do' owner Rex (Diedrich Bader) that don't pay off. These threads and non sequiturs like the Dynamites' pet llama reek of homage to Preston experiences which probably play funnier to the natives.

First time cinematographer Munn Powell keeps it simple, usually keeping his subject dead center in the frame for a deadpan look which complements the film's humor, and costumer designer Jerusha Hess (it's all in the family) adds visual interest with Napoleon's parade of novelty tees and Deb's awkward attempts at style. John Swihart's cheesy score is dead right for the proceedings.

"Napoleon Dynamite" spurs interest in more Idahoan tales from the Hess family, but it's the slack jawed, straight-armed Heder whose star is really born. His brilliant climatic show stopper followed by a geeky sweet school yard denouement make for a dynamite ending.

B

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