Life for Napoleon – John Heder– ain't easy. With his unconventional looks and geeky dress sense he's the punching bag for every one else's frustrations. He lives on a farm with his socially inept brother Kip (Aaron Ruell) who spends most of his down time in internet chat rooms. And his only friends Pedro (Efren Ramirez) and Deb (Tina Majorino) are social outcasts too. Eventually their lives are drawn together by Pedro's run for Student Body President.
This off-the-wall comedy is the first feature from director Jared Hess who wrote the script with his wife Jerusha, drawing on the real life eccentrics from their home town of Preston Idaho. The casting and dead pan performances are so original and authentic, at times I had to remind myself I was watching a film. For around $200,000 Dy-no-mite has brought more humour to the screen than all the recent big budget comedies combined.
Watch Napoleon Dynamite
SBS VICELAND (Digital channel 31) Saturday 6 July, 8.30pm
PG, 2004
Genre: Comedy
Language: English
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Diedrich Bader, Jon Heder, Aaron Ruell, Efren Ramirez, Tina Majorino
What's it about?
A listless and alienated teenager (Jon Heder) decides to help his new friend (Efren Ramirez) win the class presidency in their small western high school, while he must deal with his bizarre family life back home.
