Napoleon Dynamite (2004)

About Napoleon Dynamite

Napoleon Dynamite is an eccentric and unique comedy film released in 2004. Set in the rural town of Preston, Idaho, the movie revolves around an awkward and quirky teenager, Napoleon Dynamite, and his oddball family and friends. A geek in his own right, Napoleon navigates high school life with an unparalleled combination of sweet sensitivity and peculiar behavior. The story progresses to encompass a school election, a love story, a wild dance routine, and the ethos of self-confident individualism.

Making / Production

The movie was directed by Jared Hess, who co-wrote it with his wife, Jerusha Hess. They were inspired by their life in rural Idaho, populating their script with unique characters they've met living in such an environment. Napoleon Dynamite was made on a minimal budget which ended up becoming a surprise hit at the Sundance Film Festival in 2004.

Actors

• Jon Heder plays the titular role of Napoleon Dynamite, delivering an unforgettable performance with his unique gait, dialogue delivery, and comedic timing.
• Effren Ramirez portrays Pedro, Napoleon's best friend who runs for class president, with Ramirez skillfully capturing Pedro's shy and reserved character.
• Tina Majorino plays the role of Deb, bringing to life a side character with her superb acting and making Deb an integral part of the narrative.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The movie was filmed in Idaho over a period of just 22 days.
• "Napoleon Dynamite" was actually the pseudonym of a man that director Jared Hess met while on his LDS Church mission.
• The Dynamite's house in the movie is the actual home of Jared Hess's mother-in-law.

Awards

Despite the minimalistic production, Napoleon Dynamite was nominated for multiple awards, and it won three, most notably the MTV Movie Award for Best Musical Sequence for Napoleon's iconic dance scene.

Quotes

• "Gosh!" - Napoleon Dynamite
• "Vote for Pedro." - Pedro
• "I like your sleeves. They're real big." - Deb

Music, Soundtrack

• The film's memorable soundtrack, largely composed by John Swihart, features a quirky blend of synth-based and acoustic folk music.
• One of the standout tracks is "Forever Young" by Alphaville, played during the dance sequence.
• The original theme tune for the film, "You're just jealous because I've been chatting online with babes all day" by The Silver Hammer, has become an iconic anthem for the film.