Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2625 in DVD
• Released on: 2005-04-25
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Formats: Anamorphic, Dubbed, PAL
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: Arabic, Bulgarian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Icelandic, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish
• Dubbed in: German, Spanish
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 86 minutes

Synopsis
Jared Hess makes an unforgettable directorial debut with NAPOLEON DYNAMITE, a hilarious, tender, and original portrait of a truly eccentric character. Napoleon Dynamite (Jon Heder) is a high-school outcast in every sense of the word. More interested in playing tetherball by himself and drawing pictures of his favourite animal, the 'liger' (a combination of a lion and a tiger), Napoleon is ignored by everyone in his tiny hometown of Preston, Idaho. At home, things aren't much better. His uber-nerd older brother Kip (Aaron Ruell) and ultra-vain Uncle Rico (Jon Gries) are too busy with their own obsessions to give Napoleon the time of day. It isn't until a new student, Pedro (Efren Ramirez), arrives that Napoleon finds friendship and performs an act of brave defiance that makes him a true hero. Written by Hess and his wife Jerusha, NAPOLEON DYNAMITE brilliantly captures the awkwardness of high school without succumbing to condescension. Most of this can be attributed to Heder, who steps into Napoleon's moon boots with a jaw-dropping flawlessness. The rest of the cast is just as natural, underplaying their roles and letting the comedy unfold without forcing any of the jokes. Add a hilarious soundtrack of 1980s hits and you have an instant classic, a crowd-pleasing riot that has an undeniably universal appeal.

Customer Reviews

Not for everyone - But I loved it
Here's the best advice you'll ever get regards this film...

Turn it on. Watch the opening few scenes (as far as the "Happy hands club" scene should do it). Now ask yourself if you're amused or even interested. If the answer's "no" turn it off right now. It won't get any better for you. This isn't the film for you.

If, on the other hand, you're amused or even intrigued, sit back and enjoy one of the funniest things you'll ever see. The humour is weird, and it's not easy to say what "type" of sense of humour it would appeal to.

The film bases it's storyline/jokes mainly around the characterisation of the lead roles in particular, also some smaller roles such as Rex, founder of Rex-Kwon-Do. It's the sort of film that makes you cringe & laugh at the way the people behave and what they say, their inhibitions and their mannerisms. Lead character Napoleon is the typical nerd, but with a strange perception on life and a blurred vision between fantasy and reality - "girls want boyfriends who have skills - like hunting bow skills, nunchuck skills...." You get the idea...

The film centers on Napoleon and his 2 friends that he makes over the course of a week or 2, as well as Napoleon's internet nerd brother Kip, and his uncle Rico, a man with some issues centering around his football coach who wouldnt put him on during the last quarter of a match in '82. The film sees Napoleon's friend Pedro run for school president, his uncle trying to make his fortune as a salesman, his brother Kip united with his online girlfriend and Napoleon.... Well... dance. That's what's so great about this film - Nothing that much happens out of the ordinary to Napoleon, it's just funny watching him exist.

Definitely the marmite of films - You will love it or hate it.

You either get it or your don't.
The previous 84 reviews have pretty thoroughly covered the characters and premise of this little gem of a film, so there's not a lot I can add to that. However, I made a point of flicking through all the reviews because I was struck by the way this film polarises people; you clearly either love or hate this film. In fact doing a rough count up indicates that there's about a five to one ratio between people who adore this film and give it 4 or 5 stars, and those who clearly detested it on sight and gave it one. Now that in itself is indicator that this film must be interesting, if it engenders such strong feelings in people, whether positive or negative.

Waht I would say is believe the majority, these seemingly unlovely characters do draw you in, their very social ineptness make them endearing. Napoleon himself is a case in point. He's gawky and awkward and desperately trying to work out how to relate to other people. What he isn't, as some people have said, is learning disabled or autistic.

It's also one of those films that grows on you the more you watch it, so if you're not sure the first time you see it, give it a second go and you'll find yourself quoting the dialogue.

Geek freaks!
What a great film this is. Highly recommended. Geek lives life of quite misery in dysfunctional, disjointed family. Beautiful creations of home and school and realtionships bring painfully funny reality of small town American life to the viewer - it was actually filmed in the writers home town. Napoleon tries to help new class mate Pedro become class president. I promise you will cheer Napoleon as he does his all for Pedro. Its not a fast paced action movie - but it is a very funny, wistful look at geeks. And by the way, don't buy a time machine off e-bay!