NAPOLEON DYNAMITE at HOLLYWOOD TEEN MOVIES

As nerds go, they don’t come much nerdier than Napoleon Dynamite (Jon Heder). Picked on at school on a daily basis, the awkward, whiney and wild-haired Napoleon is an anti-social outsider whose dull life is the pits. In a word, Napoleon is weird, but then, again, so are many of the characters in his off-centre world.

Napoleon lives with his grandmother (Sandy Martin) and his older, unemployed brother, Kip (Aaron Ruell) who spends most of his time chatting online looking for romance, proving that “nerdiness” runs in the family. When grandma is hospitalised after an accident, the boys’ unwelcome uncle, Rico ((Jon Gries) turns up and, yes, he’s strange, too. Rico, who sells herbal breast enhancements door to door, is trapped in 1982, the year when he lost his chance at football greatness. Even the household pet’s a little different - grandma owns a llama.

At school, the friendless Napoleon actually finds a pal in new arrival, Pedro (Efren Ramirez) whom he helps in his campaign for class president. Napoleon also has a crush on amateur photographer, Deb (Tina Majorino), but he manages to foul up his plan to invite her to the prom and she ends up going with Pedro instead.

Believe it or not, despite his gawkiness and misfortunes, the socially disastrous Napoleon does conclude his misadventures on a note of triumph in his own unique way.

Napoleon Dynamite [DVD](2004) DVD
In the tradition of misfit teen comedies like "Revenge of the Nerds" and "Welcome to the Dollhouse," comes this decidedly off-kilter tale. Napoleon Dynamite (Jon Heder) is the quintessential American high school outcast who hatches an elaborate and hilarious plot to beat the cool kids at their own game and install his pal Pedro (Efren Ramirez) as class president. Jon Gries, Haylie Duff, Tina Majorino, and Diedrich Bader also star. 89 min. Standard and Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital 5.1, Spanish Dolby Digital Surround; Subtitles: English, French, Spanish; audio commentary; deleted scenes; featurette; photo gallery; bonus short; more.