Year: 2004
Runtime: 82 min
Language: English
Director: Jared Hess
In the unusual town of Preston, Idaho, high school student Napoleon Dynamite navigates awkward social situations. After his grandmother has an accident, his eccentric uncle moves in, further disrupting his already unconventional life. Feeling like an outcast, Napoleon finds an unlikely connection with Pedro, a shy classmate facing challenges with English. They team up to campaign for class president, hoping to bring some much-needed excitement and change to their high school.
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Napoleon Dynamite follows the life of a socially awkward high school student from Preston, Idaho. Living with his older brother, Kip, their eccentric grandmother, and their pet llama, Tina, Napoleon navigates the turbulent waters of teenage life. Kip, who is 32 years old, has yet to find employment and spends his time boasting about chatting with “babes” online and training for a career in cage fighting. Meanwhile, their grandmother leads an adventurous double life filled with secret boyfriends and thrilling quad-biking escapades.
His days are spent doodling Ligers and various fantastical creatures, all while dealing with the relentless bullies who torment him at school. With a sullen demeanor, Napoleon often spins elaborate tales about himself that he hopes will set him apart from his peers. However, after a quad-biking accident leaves their grandmother nursing a broken coccyx, she enlists the help of Uncle Rico to look after the boys during her recovery. Rico, a washed-up former athlete living in a dilapidated 1975 Dodge Tradesman camper van, seizes this chance to partner with Kip in a questionable get-rich-quick venture involving door-to-door sales. Kip’s motivation is to save money for his online girlfriend, LaFawnduh, while Rico believes that success will ease his pain of unfulfilled NFL aspirations and lost romance.
At school, Napoleon befriends two misfits: Deb, a shy entrepreneur looking to fund her college dreams, and Pedro, a transfer student from Ciudad Juárez. The bond strengthens as they navigate the challenges of high school together. Inspired by a poster he sees at a school dance, Pedro decides to run for class president against the popular, yet conniving, Summer Wheatley.
However, conflict arises when Rico’s hustling leads him to spread embarrassing rumors about Napoleon to gain sympathy from customers, ultimately straining their friendship. Tensions climax after Rico tries to sell Deb an embarrassing breast-enhancement product, falsely claiming it was Napoleon’s idea, which results in Deb severing ties with him. Rico faces retribution when the local martial arts instructor discovers his inappropriate behavior, leading to a memorable confrontation. Meanwhile, Kip’s romantic dreams come true when LaFawnduh, from Detroit, visits and gives him a trendy urban makeover before they depart together for Michigan.
On election day, Pedro’s speech does not impress his fellow classmates, but Napoleon steps up to help. After the principal unexpectedly announces a requirement for a skit to accompany Pedro’s speech, Napoleon provides a music tape he received from LaFawnduh and performs a spectacular dance routine to > “Canned Heat” by Jamiroquai. The performance earns a standing ovation from everyone, except for Summer and her boyfriend, leaving a mark in the school’s history.
The story wraps up as Pedro triumphantly becomes class president, Rico rekindles his romance with his estranged girlfriend, and their grandmother returns home from the hospital. The friendships between Napoleon and Deb are repaired, culminating in a friendly game of tether-ball. In a humorous post-credits moment, Kip and LaFawnduh tie the knot in a beautiful outdoor ceremony. As Napoleon comically arrives on a horse, humorously claiming it is a “wild honeymoon stallion” he has domesticated, Deb captures the moment with her camera as Kip and LaFawnduh ride off into the sunset.
Last Updated: November 03, 2024 at 14:02
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