Napoleon Dynamite is a movie that takes you to the another world. This world is not magical, mysterious, futuristic that we seen in other Hollywood movies. This is the world of Napoleon Dynamite. Situated somewhere near out nostalgia.
This is the purest form of nostalgia and all characters are so much into it. The food, gadgets, fashion, colors and styles represents simplicity 80's era.
Setting and Feel
The Napoleon and his brother has low sense and understanding about the real world. I also had this feeling when I was teenage, assuming the world and life are so simple. Had no goal and no surety, clarity about direction where I should be going. I thing many of us were feeling exactly same like me.
This was the era of television, electronic music and gadgets. Fashion magazines with printed ads of cold drink brands and fast food. They were promoting youth's new lifestyle and selling dreams to us, teenagers.
These leaves many shallow memories. Which suddenly appeared when I saw this movie. I repeatedly watch it again and again! Could not stop my self.
Story and flow
Napoleon never smiles and cries. He is just stay annoyed and confused. Gets bullied by classmates and started to looking for some friend support. He shows off. He says big things which can't be real. That creates great fun for the movie audience.
He gets a friend, Predo. Just like him, he has the same brain as Napoleon has. With the help of each other, both of friends get what they want.
The story some time looks so plot less. But no, it is moving slowly. It has it's own features. The characters like Kip, Uncle Rico and Deb are also just like Napoleon... living in their own world... being stupid and sometime trying to be smart enough.
Direction and making
Low budget film making, according to me... opens up lot of new ways that main stream cinema can't think of. Just look at opening title designs as an example. Story arc and situations create simplicity because no extraordinary things comes up to viewers.
Conclusion and final verdict
Many viewers find it's a comedy movie with dumb characters. But Napoleon, Predo, Deb, Kip are actually not so normal as her mom, Summer, Rex and other casting. With that slight mental disability they never gave up and rich to the desired goal.
Happy dnding! Yes, I love happy ending!