The 2004 cult comedy Napoleon Dynamite was shown on Film 4 recently and I just couldn’t resist watching it again. It stars the absolutely hilarious John Heder as Napoleon, a dysfunctional, slightly arrogant and very geeky teenager who isn’t really taken very seriously by anyone at school or at home.
The film is a refreshing take on high school life, and rather than simply being your usual teen comedy that relies on cheap laughs we have Napoleon who brings a much more dry sarcastic humour with the best thing being he just doesn’t know how funny he actually is.
This film shot John Heder to stardom after fans fell in love with this quirky and naive character he was portraying. He has since gone on to star in hit movies such as Blades of Glory, Just Like Heaven and even voiced a very funny animated chicken in the movie “Surf?s Up” alongside Shia LaBeouf (Another of America’s top actors right now).
Some of the scenes from Napoleon Dynamite have now become cult classics on the internet; I’m sure almost everyone has that dancing emoticon or a video clip of Napoleon doing his unforgettably ridiculous dancing on stage at the school election, it just went on for so long and included so many crazy moves that you cant help but find yourself laughing at some point during the whole thing!
Napoleon’s friend Pedro played by Efren Ramirez was also a particular highlight to the movie and the friendship between the two of them was really fun to watch.
This is definitely not a film that will appeal to everyone, it’s had its fair share of both positive and negative reviews and I think its one that you will start watching and either love it instantly or be so bored that you switch it off straight away. My wife and son found the embarrassment factor to be unbearable and couldn’t watch it, but I was fixated the whole way through.
I’d definitely recommend giving it a go if you are willing to try something a bit different from the norm and like offbeat comedies. It’s worth it for John Heder’s performance alone trust me!Full cast list for Napoleon Dynamite: Aaron Demke, Aaron Ruell, Adam Higley, Alisha Wakley, Alison Downs, Allison Gamble, Alyssa Harrison, Amanda Austin, Amber Larsen, Amy Christiansen, Annette Jensen, Arianna Crosland, Arlando Larsen, Arturo De Silva, Ashely Buck, Ashley Jackson, Audrey Hinricks, Becky Demke, Becky Yates, Bracken Johnson, Braden Hablin, Brady Stokes, Brandon Ostler, Brett Taylor, Brian Davis, Brian Petersen, Brianne Richardson, Brigham Wilcox, Brittany Foster, Brittney Cole, Brooke Beckstead, Cara Alder, Carmen Brady, Cassie Galloway, Chantel Talbot, Charles Fetzer, Charles Sparrow, Cherone Call, Cheryl Hobbs, Christina Child, Christina McBride, Christina Nicholas, Cierra Talbot, Cindy Biggs, Cody Abrams, Cody Hobbs, Colton Hirschi, Connie Owen, Cory Waters, Crystal Wright, Dakotah Gordon, Dale Critchlow, Damon Hull, Daniel Brewer, David Sharp, Dayne Keller, Debbie Hugie, Derik Atkinson, Diedrich Bader, Eden Hamblin, Efren Ramirez, Elaina Horne, Eldean Holliday, Eli Wheeler, Elisabeth North, Elizabeth Miklavcic, Ellen Dubin, Emily Gamer, Emily Tyndall, Evan Harris, Frederick Atkins, Gloria Talbot, Hannah Gibby, Hayley Bowen, Haylie Duff, Heather Benson, Isaac Demke, J.C. Cunningham, Jaclyn Olsen, Jacob Linderman, Jade Christiansen, Jake Adams, Jake Higley, Jake King, Jake Visser, Jamen Gunnell, James Stevens, Jane Christiansen, Jason Linderman, Jenna Griffith, Jenna Packer, Jenny Seamons, Jeremy Burns, Jesse Stocks, Jessica Koller, Jessica North, Jon Bliss, Jon Gries, Jon Heder, Josh North, Julia Ruell, Justin Mason, Justin Poppleton, Kacie Thompson, Kai Fetzer, Karenina Jones, Kathrine Gibby, Katie Keller, Katie Seamons, Katrina Stocks, Kayla Hirschi, Kayleen Jones, Kelsey Roach, Kelsey Stockdale, Keri Kelley, Kevin Jensen, Kim Demke, Kolby Talbot, Kolton Bosen, Kristen Gibby, Kyle Hansen, Kylie Larsen, Lacey Johnson, Lacey Saxton, Lacey Smith, Landon Bell, Laura Oliverson, Lauren Womack, Leatrice Esplin, Levi Morrison, Lindsay Wilson, Lindsey Saxton, Loria Badali, Lynette Phillips, Madison Beckstead, Mandi Dalley, Marc Roberts, Marie Nelson, Mario Mainini, Marla Jensen, Marlene Prouse, Mary Downs, Mary Heers, Matt Hinrichs, Matt Porter, McKell Peterson, Megan Earley, Megan Haslam, Michael Brewer, Michael Kelley, Nanette Young, Nanetter Neilson, Nano De Silva, Nate McBride, O’Leah Corcorran, Paige Christensen, Parker Rawlings, Pat Donahue, Paula Yates, Perrie Sagers, Perrle Sagers, Preston Slaughter, Rachel Talbot, Radine Harris, Randi Roberts, Rionnie Love, Rosie Thomas, Roy Esplin, Ryan Jensen, Sabrena Smart, Samantha Clark, Sami Dalley, Sandy Martin, Sara Phillips, Sarah Barton, Sarah Owen, Scott Thomas, Sean Hobie, Sean Richmond, Shanda Call, Shane Christiansen, Shane Pulsipher, Shantell Parsons, Shawn Oliverson, Shawnee Call, Shelbee Call, Shondrella Avery, Shonee Alder, Shontae Alder, Skylar Ostler, Stephen Rallenson, Summer Coburn, T.J. Adams, Tami Auger, Tara Roach, Taylor Bosen, Telecia Stockdale, Thedora Peeterborg, Tiffany Cole, Timothy Colvin, Tina Majorino, Tom Adams, Tom Lefler, Trevor Mendenhall, Trevor Snarr, Tyler Dodge, Tyler Drury, Tyler Hansen, Tyler Martin, Tyler Waters, Vanessa Stratton, Walter Platz, William Fetzer..