Napoleon Dynamite

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—Review
—Trailers, Photos
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In a summer of full of ogres, killer robots, natural disasters and Spideys with multimillion dollar budgets, a little flick set in middle America with a most unsung hero has emerged from the pack as one of the genuine successes of the year. Napoleon Dynamite is a simple movie about -- let’s be honest folks -- a geek (Jon Heder). He and his brother Kip, a thirty-something-year old, chat room addicted doofus himself, live with their grandma and their pet llama where the daily item on the dinner menu is steak. Lots and lots of steak . . . although, as the flick goes on, we find that Napoleon also has a fixation with Tater Tots!

Grandma has an accident while on a "date" and Napoleon and Kip’s uncle Rico is summoned to take care of them. Rico is a total slimeball whose life is stuck in a permanent freeze-frame of the year 1982 when he was a star high school quarterback (or is it all a figment of his imagination?). Rico persuades Kip to join him on a get rich quick scheme selling Tupperware -- and eventually, herbal breast enhancers! It just may work . . . if Rico can keep Napoleon out of his hair.

Napoleon meets Pedro, a immigrant from Mexico, and they bond while demonstrating their skills in bike jumping. Napoleon gives Pedro the courage to do the impossible . . . whether it’s asking the prettiest girl in gym class to the big school dance or, ultimately, running for class president. When this pretty girl turns down Pedro, Pedro takes Napoleon’s neighbor Deb to the dance. Unbeknownst to Napoleon, Deb has a major crush on Napoleon but isn’t doing a good job hiding it.

When the film was over, I called my wife and told her that I had just witnessed the greatest geek film of all time! While most high school films get their kicks by laughing at the geeks involved, Napoleon Dynamite succeeds because our heroic geek is not involved in the joke at all. In his mind, he is Superman! A legend with "mad skills" who dances to the beat of his own drummer . . . both literally and figuratively. There are one-liners in this film that are destined to take their place in the "classic movie lines hall of fame." We’re talking gut busting humor, folks! And his act of loyalty to his best friend Pedro during the class president debate shall live in eternity. Other "destined to be classic moments" include: Kip’s adventure with a knockoff martial arts guru, Napoleon picking out his suit for the big dance, Pedro’s haircut and Rico recalling those football glory days of yesteryear on video tape. The funniest one of all involves Kip coming face to face with the woman of his cyberdreams . . . not to mention his ensuing transformation!

It seems that every summer, in the midst of the slam-bang heavy hitters, a simple story comes along and sweeps critics and audiences off their feet. With this film, this summer is no exception. Why in the heck is this little movie about a big geek experiencing all this critical and commercial success (at the time of this review, while all the other summer films are fading from the top 10, this one is climbing it’s way in)?

Maybe the answer is found by way of the Bible (1 Corinthians 1:27): "But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong."

God has a track record of using simple messages and simple men to impact the world. Just look at what He did with a carpenter from Galilee. Napoleon Dynamite is indeed a simple story about a simple guy whose life is a celebration of the greatness within him. The film’s simple message exemplifies two of life’s most important qualities: the ability to stay true to yourself and the inspiration that comes from being a faithful friend to others.

Links
—Review
—Trailers, Photos
—About this Film
—Spiritual Connections