Napoleon Dynamite (2004)

Director:

Jared Hess

Writers:

Jared Hess (written by) and
Jerusha Hess (written by)

Release Date:

27 August 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

He's out to prove he's got nothing to prove.

Plot:

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.

Plot Keywords:

High School | Jock | Class President | Idaho | Rejection

Awards:

10 wins & 18 nominations

Cast

Jon Heder	...	Napoleon Dynamite
Jon Gries	...	Uncle Rico
Aaron Ruell	...	Kip
Efren Ramirez	...	Pedro
Diedrich Bader	...	Rex
Tina Majorino	...	Deb
Sandy Martin	...	Grandma
Haylie Duff	...	Summer Wheatly
Trevor Snarr	...	Don
Shondrella Avery	...	Lafawnduh
Bracken Johnson	...	Randy
Carmen Brady	...	Starla
Ellen Dubin	...	Ilene
J.C. Cunningham	...	Jock #1
James Stevens	...	Jock #2 (as James Smooth)

Also Known As:

Bus otoko (Japan) (DVD title) [ja]
Dynamiitti Napoleon (Finland) [fi]
Napoleon Dynamite (Canada: French title) [fr]

MPAA:

Rated PG for thematic elements and language.

Runtime:

82 min | USA:86 min (Sundance Film Festival) | Canada:86 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG (certificate no. 40773) | Ireland:PG | Iceland:L | Germany:o.Al. | Netherlands:6 | Portugal:M/6 | Canada:G (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Québec) | Canada:PG (Nova Scotia/Ontario) | New Zealand:PG | South Africa:PG | South Korea:15 | Australia:PG | Finland:K-7 | Singapore:PG | UK:PG

Filming Locations:

Franklin, Idaho, USA

Company:

Fox Searchlight Pictures

Trivia:

Idaho unanimously passed a bill praising Jared Hess and Jerusha Hess for making the film, citing amongst their reasons that the Preston High School administration and staff, particularly the cafeteria staff, have enjoyed notoriety and worldwide attention. Tater tots figuring prominently in the film has promoted Idaho's most famous export.

Goofs:

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: In the ending sequence, Pedro is seen with a cake that reads 'Presidente Pedro! Felicidades!' Spanish exclamations are preceded by upside-down exclamation points, a detail that no person from Mexico would exclude. However, this mistake could have been made by an Idahoan pastry chef who doesn't speak Spanish.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Kid on Bus: What are you gonna do today, Napoleon?
Napoleon Dynamite: Whatever I feel like I wanna do. Gosh!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Dinner for Five: (#4.9)" (2005)

Soundtrack:

The Rose

A cult-classic

Though this movie seems to strike a chord with the younger crowd, there is no age limit to appreciating this film, just limits in your sense of humor. Perhaps the funniest movie I've seen in years, ND explores character profiles we never thought would make it to the movies. The characters cover a wide range of social misfits and exhibit the nuances of their behavior in a way that makes sense to them, if not to the general public. It's like a sociological case study of a primitive and exotic tribe of "Nerds". Everyone of us should be able to recognize at least one of the ND characters from somewhere in our past or somewhere in our psyches. The acting is sublime, because sometimes we forget that they ARE acting. The writing and dialogue are inventive and unexpected, and so dry it might take you a few days to start laughing. But once you do start laughing, you won't be able to stop. This movie is sure to be a cult classic for the new millennium the way Repo Man was the the 80's. And if you like this film, consider yourself luck-EEEE, because not everyone will.