Napoleon Dynamite

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Saw this film last night and was pretty disappointed. Has anyone else seen it and what did you think?

― sara, Friday, 11 June 2004 21:17 (twenty-two years ago)

The trailer had me running away in terror. It looks like a Todd Solondz freakshow that tries to weasel out of being a freakshow with some BS touchy-feely stuff.

― miloauckerman (miloauckerman), Friday, 11 June 2004 22:13 (twenty-two years ago)

never heard of this film, but "todd solondz freakshow" definitely peaked my interest...anyone care to elaborate?

― jay blanchard (jay blanchard), Friday, 11 June 2004 22:59 (twenty-two years ago)

ok, i took the initiative to check out the trailer & i have to concur with the consensus. it just seems like a rip off of the "cool awkwardness" of todd solondz with a bit of "beavis and butthead" exaggeration on top. it just seems way to contrived and forced, albeit superficially humorous.

of course, it is only a trailer, so i can't really judge from that alone.

― jay blanchard (jay blanchard), Friday, 11 June 2004 23:12 (twenty-two years ago)

not half as interesting as todd solondz, but maybe also not trying so hard to alienate the viewer. definitely influenced by wes anderson but without any of the depth that make his movies more than character sketches. there is basically just one joke the entire film: the character of napolean dynamite himself.

i did sorta laugh a few times. and the dance sequence is amazing.

― sara (sara), Wednesday, 16 June 2004 18:59 (twenty-one years ago)

I liked the part where the hero yelled "It's fuck-time baby!" It was so unexpected. I felt like I was watching another movie.

― Tom Jorn, Thursday, 17 June 2004 12:57 (twenty-one years ago)

which part was that? so unexpected that i can't even remember it...

the hype around this movie is starting to seriously annoy me as well. i should have expected as much from something MTV is associated with.

― sara (sara), Friday, 18 June 2004 21:01 (twenty-one years ago)

"not half as interesting as todd solondz, but maybe also not trying so hard to alienate the viewer."

Could you elaborate on this a bit more, Sara? I'm not quite sure if I agree that Solondz tries to "alienate" his audience--I find his characters definitely warped, but also very human and identifiable in many ways. I can see where you're coming from though.

― jay blanchard (jay blanchard), Friday, 18 June 2004 21:57 (twenty-one years ago)

Napoleon Dynamite feels like Candlebox of the awkward goofy dark comedy indie teen movie genre.

― Gear! (Gear!), Friday, 18 June 2004 22:23 (twenty-one years ago)

Todd Solondz is one of the most overrated directors currently working. His characters are so one dimensional and he aims to shock with such fervor, that it boggles my mind that anyone takes him seriously at all.

― David Allen (David Allen), Friday, 18 June 2004 23:22 (twenty-one years ago)

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