Napoleon Dynamite

About Napoleon Dynamite

Napoleon Dynamite is a 2004 American comedy film produced by Jeremy Coon, Chris Wyatt, Sean Covel and Jory Weitz, written by Jared and Jerusha Hess and directed by Jared Hess. The plot follows the life of an eccentric, socially awkward high school boy named Napoleon Dynamite who inhabits the outskirts of a small town in Idaho. He is often caught in his imaginative world, drawing mythical creatures and practicing sweet dance moves. With the help of his new friends, Napoleon takes on High School politics aiding his friend Pedro in his campaign to become the class president.

Making / Production

The film was shot on an extremely tight budget and a production schedule of only 22 days. The film was shot in multiple locations in Idaho, and the low budget led to a minimalist filming style, with many scenes shot with available lighting. The majority of the film's wardrobe was supplied by the actors or found at local thrift shops.

Actors

• Jon Heder as Napoleon Dynamite: Jon plays the character of Napoleon in a unique style, portraying strong sense of innocence and fun, along with a social awkwardness that make the character stand out.
• Efren Ramirez as Pedro: Efren embraces the role of Pedro, a serious, soft-spoken high school student running for class president, with authenticity and finesse.
• Tina Majorino as Deb: Tina takes the role of Deb, a shy, socially inept girl who sells keychains, handboxed lunch boxes and glamour shots to make ends meet.
• Aaron Ruell as Kip Dynamite: Aaron plays Napoleon's older, nerdy brother, Kip who spends most of his time chatting with girlfriends on the internet.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The film made over $46 million against a budget of only $400,000.
• Tina Majorino (Deb), despite her character's appearance, was actually a very fashionable and trendy person.
• Most of the clothes worn by the cast are their own or bought from thrift stores.
• The film became a pop-culture phenomenon and even spawned its own festival in Idaho, known as "Napoleon Dynamite Festival".

Awards

The film was nominated in three categories at the 20th Indie Spirit Awards, including Best First Feature and Best First Screenplay. Jon Heder was nominated for Best Male Lead.

Quotes

• "Gosh!" - Napoleon
• "I see you're drinking 1%. Is that 'cause you think you're fat?" - Napoleon
• "Vote for Pedro." - Pedro
• "Napoleon, don't be jealous that I've been chatting online with babes all day." - Kip
• "I caught you a delicious bass." - Napoleon

Music, Soundtrack

• The film's original soundtrack was composed by John Swihart.
• It featured music from several artists including Jamiroquai, Alphaville, and Rogue Wave. Other featured songs include "The Promise" by When in Rome, "Forever Young" by Alphaville, and "Canned Heat" by Jamiroquai.