Napoleon Dynamite Review (Retro Movie Minute #23)

The Retro Movie Minute feature is a series on my YouTube channel in which I briefly share my thoughts on an older film (to catch up with all other installments of this series, click here). Regardless of whether or not I had seen it previously, my general rule of thumb here will be that I report on something I had seen in theaters. I will also make exceptions for older films played in special events or if I am seeing some movie(s) in preparation for a new release that is somehow related. Thank you for reading/watching!



Napoleon Dynamite was directed by Jared Hess, based on a screenplay he wrote with his wife Jerusha. This served as his directorial debut back in 2004. Originally, the film opened in theaters in June of that year, but would later gain much stronger traction when expanding to more theaters. Jon Heder stars as the titular character in perhaps his most iconic role. His co-stars consist of Jon Gries, Efren Ramirez, Tina Majorino, Aaron Ruell, Diedrich Bader, and Haylie Duff.
IMDb reports the synopsis of the film as such:
“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.”
My full thoughts can be found in the video above, which is just over 9 minutes long. If you would prefer the shorter version of my opinion on this movie, keep on reading.


Just like how there are countless movies that evoke their specific era, Napoleon Dynamite is an artifact of its time. Other films you could label this with are Jaws from the 70s; Back to the Future from the 80s; Pulp Fiction from the 90s; and finally, Napoleon Dynamite evokes that type of indie film of the early 2000s which people either loved or hated. The homemade filmmaking style, quirky so-dumb-it’s-amazing kind of humor, and an essentially plotless narrative made for an experience that was generally well-received, but certainly easy to label as polarizing.
As for me, I happen to be on the positive side of the fence.
You see, Napoleon Dynamite isn’t just a movie I enjoy watching every time it’s on. The fact of the matter is that it was a formative film for me, meaning that it holds relevance to my development as a person. The endlessly quotable dialogue, iconic characters, and even subtle messages all stuck with me, and still mean something to me this very day. (Not to mention that Napoleon Dynamite was also the very first film I purchased on Blu-ray.)
As I revisited it 15 years after its original theatrical run, however, I have to admit that Jared Hess’s directorial debut wasn’t a flawless one. Not that any movie is free of blemishes anyway, but the general lack of a propelling story does present a problem.
Scenes just sort of flow into one another without any real sense of progression or rhythm. The editing is on point when it comes to timing jokes and cutting to the right angle/reaction shot, but in terms of moving the movie along, it’s difficult to pick up on what the point is from time to time. The screenplay is to blame here too since a more tight narrative could have benefited its grand appeal.
That being said, I would otherwise have this movie no other way. The lack of connective tissue between scenes aside, Napoleon Dynamite nonetheless goes from one hilarious sequence to the next. Thanks to pitch-perfect performances and solid direction from Hess – who seemed to have been channeling pre-2000s Wes Anderson – the sequences all hold up, and never cease to amaze me. In particular, the scene involving the grapefruit is one of my favorite comedic moments ever.
In the end, even if a clearly identifiable plot isn’t here, the misadventures of Jon Heder’s iconic character are endearing. He’s just a quirky dork trying to find acceptance and happiness, and ultimately, this movie does enough to provide that satisfactory resolution for him, complemented by hysterical moments that will forever be imprinted on my mind.
Give praise that this movie exists, and will continue to exist for generations to come.
SCORE: B+


AGE RECOMMENDATION: Napoleon Dynamite is mostly family-friendly, but has some elements parents will find questionable. At one point, a character creepily tries to sell bust enhancements to women of varying ages – some of which are teenagers. Also, the liberal use of slang words may bother others as well. Otherwise, this is safe entertainment for mildly older kids. (10+)

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