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Napoleon Dynamite
A True Legend In His Own Zip Code

Starring: Jon Heder, Efren Ramirez ,Aaron Ruell ,Tina Majorino ,Diedrich Bader
Director: Jared Hess
Screenwriters: Jared Hess, Jerusha Hess

Reviewed by Chris Ching

Set in Butt F**k Egypt AKA Preston, Idaho, Napoleon Dynamite tells the tale of a teenage oddball we all knew (or possibly were) in high school. While quite intelligent and kind hearted, Napoleon's geeky voice, zero fashion sense, Dungeons & Dragons love, and numerous strange habits (he stuffs cafeteria tater tots in his fanny pack for later consumption) result in jock beatings and disgust from the opposite sex.

Home life isn't much better for the nerd who would be king. His Grandmother makes him feed her pet Lama and his wimpy, chat room dwelling brother Kip could care less about Napoleon's problems. When Grams bails hard in a tragic four wheeler accident, their tyrannical Uncle Rico comes to stay with them. Obsessed with 1982 and the epic high school football game his coach didn't put him in, Rico hopes to earn enough dough to buy a time machine on Ebay to change history. Yes, he's that stupid.

Napoleon's only support system is the equally odd Pedro who in one scene shaves his head simply because he's too hot. Pedro looks like he's perpetually in a state of just finished smoking a fat one, or glazed eyes and monotone voice could just be his way. A semi-love triangle arises when Pedro asks Napoleon's only other friend (and sort of hopeful girlfriend) Deb to the school dance. but its another hallmark of Napoleon's goodness that he bears no grudge.

Napoleon Dynamite is essentially the guy version of Todd Solondz' Welcome to the Dollhouse without the extreme cynicism. Unlike Dollhouse' Dawn "Weinerdog" Weiner, Napoleon doesn't let his detractors bring him down. When he finally triumphs over everyone's low expectations, it's an exhilarating moment on a par with Rocky beating Apollo Creed in Rocky II or more appropriately, Jennifer Beals' Flashdance school audition.

Director Hess has created a perfectly realized world. At first glance, the art direction is unobtrusive, but on closer inspection, the white trash city of Preston is just as rich as the Land of Oz. The same can be said for the film's actors. Jon Heder as Napoleon and the rest of the cast give the type of wonderful performances that doesn't seem like acting but are more effective than many so-called Oscar caliber moments.

SF Fanboy prediction: Napoleon Dynamite will become a cult movie classic. Tune in ten years from now and see if we were right.

Rating:	(3 1/2 out of 4 stars)
Napoleon Dynamite is currently playing in Sacramento.

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