Napoleon Dynamite
An apathetic and estranged teenager makes a decision to aid his newly made friend in being the class president, along with having to deal with his strange family present at home
29 April 1978, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
November 08, 2011
For all its charm and its impeccable leads, Napoleon Dynamite is a modish exercise in anti-cool. Still, a strong debut for all its young talents.
June 24, 2006
It's a cast of brilliant caricatures, and as such recalls the films of Wes Anderson.
July 02, 2004
An independent take on a Hollywood tradition, undermined by its cliches but saved by its performances.
December 26, 2010
One-of-a-kind high school comedy for the family.
December 04, 2016
There's something distinctly sour-tasting in how long the film lingers on its characters doubling-down on their awkwardness.
July 24, 2007
For most of its length this delivers a steady stream of uncomfortable gut laughs.
July 21, 2005
Napoleon Dynamite may be forcefully weird and intermittently humorous, and you might not know what the heck to make of it, but there's nothing shocking about its screenplay.
March 24, 2014
The approach has all the lasting charm of a train derailment, but at least the train is going somewhere before it is brought to disaster.
August 22, 2010
too odd to dismiss and often truly funny
July 16, 2004
As slight as the picture is, though, its hero is an indelible creation.
September 19, 2010
Napoleon's climactic spaz-out dance is more than just a goofy gag. It's a payoff to a great buddy-system comedy and the idea that it's not high school's dreams and regrets that last, but the sometimes-bizarre friendships.
July 16, 2004
The funniest film of the summer.
