Napoleon Dynamite is Jared Hess' (Nacho Libre, Gentlemen Broncos) directing debut. It deals with a short period of time in the lives of some of the nerdiest young people in cinema history. It follows the titular character around in school, with his friends, and at home with his equally weird family consisting of an extreme sports loving grandmother, a supposedly cagefighting brother that chats online with babes all day and an uncle who makes a living selling tupperware and breast enhancing articles.
Virtually plotless, with no big names in the cast, not openly out for laugh-out-loud moments, this is an odd duck in comedy. This being said, it is still a fantastic one. You come to feel for all characters, of which there is not one whom is 'normal'. Oddly enough, Haylie Duff's bitchy antagonist Summer Wheatly is probably the most normal of the lot. Jon Heder does a great job portraying Napoleon. His facial expressions are perfect for the character. The musical score is also fantastic, with some well chosen songs. A lot of distant, static shots should make us feel like watching monkeys in a zoo exhibit, but still the innocence of the main characters make for an engaging experience. The comedy exists in the quirkiness of the unrealistic, but still easily to identify with, characters. Stay tuned for the after credits scene, which is great, and features one of the most funnily romantic songs ever.
Recommended to those who love unconventional comedy.
