Napoleon Dynamite [2004]
Directed by: Jared Hess
Napoleon is having a hard time fitting in the world around him. Not only in school but his own family. Will he ever find his place in the world around him? All the while trying to help his friend run for school president?!
Napoleon isn't like his classmates or really anyone. I think that's the appeal of this film. The world he perceives is uniquely his and throughout the film he carries the burden of being a social outcast. It's in a moment where he puts all of it on the line that he truly finds his little niche in school. Everything slowly comes to a conclusion rather simultaneously. It's a moment where he genuinely defies their perspective in reception of who he is. As the audience you genuinely see it too.
I remember when this came out in 2004. EVERYONE I knew was talking about this film. Napoleon was almost everywhere.
Back in the day, I lived by the idea that if something was overhyped, I'd skip it. That way when I'm ready to watch it; I'd watch it through lenses free of bias and opinions. Regrettably, I did this for this film. I think the true message and visual aesthetic was lost on 2021 me.
I remember being the awkward kid trying to make sense of the world. I think if I did watch it then, I'd appreciate the film just a little bit more than I do now. That's not to say I disliked it immensely. I just do not know where to place my rating. It's a sweet film about being so completely misplaced that the world around can't help but want to root for you too. It did come across a bit dry to me. I'm not sure if it was intentional or not.
7.6/10
Photo Credit: Searchlight Pictures, Paramount Pictures, MTV Entertainment Studios
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