Napolean Dynamite at DVinfo.net

Marco Leavitt · August 7th, 2004, 09:13 PM

Just got back from this and I really liked it. My friend just didn't get it, and I would be interested in hearing other people's reactions. It reminded a great deal of "Rubin and Ed," which is by another Utah director, Trent Harris, and stars Crispin Glover who is a clear antecedent to the Napolean character.

Josh Bass · August 8th, 2004, 08:45 AM

I thought it was decent, but not as amazingly hilariously outrageously gutbustingly hysterical as the hype would have you believe. I think most people feel this way. Good, but not great.

Robert Knecht Schmidt · August 8th, 2004, 09:52 AM

The climax was entirely freestyled. No choreography.

Marco Leavitt · August 8th, 2004, 11:20 AM

"not as amazingly hilariously outrageously gutbustingly hysterical as the hype would have you believe."

That's kind of what I was getting at in mentioning "Rubin and Ed." Part of the joke is that it isn't funny. I think it might be a Utah thing. "Rubin and Ed" was billed as the first movie made by Utahns for Utahns. I guess "Napolean Dynamite" represents the first time this kind of thing is getting exported "beyond the Zion curtain." A lot of the humor comes from recognizing the Utah references (even if it was shot in Idaho) -- fry sauce, shopping at Deseret Industries, crepe paper streamers at the formal dance. The dance routine and the costumes that the girls were wearing at the end, just before Napolean cuts loose, are dead on. I'm not kidding. My friend mentioned that she thought all the characters were exagerrated stereotypes. Nope. I grew up in a rural Utah town and I can name someone who is exactly like nearly everyone in this movie. My friend also mentioned that she liked the art direction of the homes that were featured in the film and I had to laugh. Just walk up to a home at random and kick in the door. There's not a lot of exagerration in this movie.

August 7th, 2004, 09:13 PM	#1
Marco Leavitt Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Albany, NY 12210 Posts: 2,652	Napolean Dynamite Just got back from this and I really liked it. My friend just didn't get it, and I would be interested in hearing other people's reactions. It reminded a great deal of "Rubin and Ed," which is by another Utah director, Trent Harris, and stars Crispin Glover who is a clear antecedent to the Napolean character.

August 8th, 2004, 08:45 AM	#2
Josh Bass Slash Rules! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 5,472	I thought it was decent, but not as amazingly hilariously outrageously gutbustingly hysterical as the hype would have you believe. I think most people feel this way. Good, but not great. __________________ The Bass' camerawork The Bass on IMDB

August 8th, 2004, 09:52 AM	#3
Robert Knecht Schmidt Wrangler Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 1,933	The climax was entirely freestyled. No choreography. __________________ All the best, Robert K S Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| The best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

August 8th, 2004, 11:20 AM	#4
Marco Leavitt Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Albany, NY 12210 Posts: 2,652	"not as amazingly hilariously outrageously gutbustingly hysterical as the hype would have you believe." That's kind of what I was getting at in mentioning "Rubin and Ed." Part of the joke is that it isn't funny. I think it might be a Utah thing. "Rubin and Ed" was billed as the first movie made by Utahns for Utahns. I guess "Napolean Dynamite" represents the first time this kind of thing is getting exported "beyond the Zion curtain." A lot of the humor comes from recognizing the Utah references (even if it was shot in Idaho) -- fry sauce, shopping at Deseret Industries, crepe paper streamers at the formal dance. The dance routine and the costumes that the girls were wearing at the end, just before Napolean cuts loose, are dead on. I'm not kidding. My friend mentioned that she thought all the characters were exagerrated stereotypes. Nope. I grew up in a rural Utah town and I can name someone who is exactly like nearly everyone in this movie. My friend also mentioned that she liked the art direction of the homes that were featured in the film and I had to laugh. Just walk up to a home at random and kick in the door. There's not a lot of exagerration in this movie.