Napoleon Dynamite | Canadian First Time Watching | Movie Reaction | Movie Review | Movie Commentary

[@CineBingeReact]

"You guys missed the post credit scene!" "29:58"

[@TomH2681]

You've also misspelled "Napoleon" everywhere. It's an "o". 😀

[@Smileybeeblevrox]

They saw the post credit scene, watch til the end, duh!

[@danilopapais1464]

"They don't know how to human yet" had me thinking of kids as "small human in training" (s.h.i.t.). Btw, never sniffed my hand afterwards.

[@Bunke09]

I see what you did here.

[@jlinkous05]

In Simone's alternate reality, she made this film in college with her friends instead of the other one lol

[@moonlitegram]

The fact that George knew what a Liger was before ever watching this movie tells us all we need to know about his high school days :D

[@hellomark1]

As soon as he said that I knew they were going to love it

[@Nick_CF]

Yup lol

[@pistonburner6448]

He has starred in his own Kublai Khan Dynamite.

[@pdraggy]

yeah shocked me to heck heh

[@TheWaynos73]

Skills and magic.

[@flawed1]

I love that the joke with Lafawnduhn is that first, you think he’s being catfished. Then, you think she’s going to be disappointed when she sees he’s not a cage fighter. Then, you think she’s going to realize it’s not going to work out, but none of that happened. They just end up really happy together 🤣

[@Twiska]

I love this subtle joke when Rico asks Kip if he sold her his new product, which we find out later are "bust-increasing supplements"; Kip simply says, "she doesn't need it." So we know at this point he has seen a photo of her.

[@Pinkladyisv]

I like that they end up happy too it really subverts expectations.

[@Cassxowary]

@@Twiskaand that he’s a good bf defending her, and no one needs his creepy crap

[@jakobR2112]

Also her brother's (presumably) reaction to the "I do's" is comedy gold

[@beeaye7944]

I also love how her Brother (?) in the post-credits scene brings the joke around full-circle by confirming that the pairing of Kip and Lafawnduh is just as ridiculous to the outside observer as the audience thinks, and they simply are too much in love to care.

[@TheBadgertwo]

"What year is this set in" is my favorite question about this movie, because the answer is Idaho.

[@stevieb3077]

😆

[@crashwithkirby6708]

Yeah, time just moves slower in some places

[@dolphenwulf2431]

I think early 90's

[@garrynumanfrenchcries]

it takes place in 2004 as shown on a card in the starting credits i think i forgor

[@taylordinney1484]

The state government of Idaho actually gave the writers an award for bringing so much attention to the state and the film is now recognized as contributing to the culture of Idaho.

[@chappie_nottherobot]

The pop culture shift after Napoleon Dynamite was so crazy, especially for such a little indie film shot in rural Idaho. My mom and I quoted the shit out of this movie back in 2004. Back in 5th or 6th grade, sometime after the movie was released in theaters I remember there was a cop that came to my school for the D.A.R.E. program. He had all of us kids in class write down anonymous questions for him if we wanted to know anything about drugs, and one of my classmates asks, "Have you seen Napoleon Dynamite yet?" The cop, with no hesitation says, "Whenever I feel like watching it. GOSH!" 😭😭

[@juliodavila424]

It was definitely noticeable. It had been brewing with Spike Jones and Wes Anderson, but after Napoleon Dynamite the whole "normalcore" aesthetic (i.e., put on your parents' clothes from the early 90s) really took off. I'd say it peaked (or began to decline?) with Macklemore's "Thrift shop."

[@jlinkous05]

I knew it was just east of the Rockies in the farm belt, but now I know it was Idaho! The '99 PC, the late 80's vibe, framed in the year of shooting probably, trapped in time. Idaho was the last missing piece for me!

[@thatsthat2612]

My blood elf on world of warcraft does the dance

[@beeaye7944]

@@jlinkous05 Uh, you are aware that Idaho isn't East of the Rockies, right? ^_^

[@jlinkous05]

@@beeaye7944 Shut up I'm having a moment

[@masamune2984]

Believe it or not, this film was absolutely, positively MASSIVE in pop culture when it released. I’m talking like…Top 10 (at least) for the entire decade. “Vote for Pedro” shirts/signs were EVERYWHERE. 🙂

[@Dom213]

Everyone in middle school was sighing like Napoleon, saying geeze like him. My school even had our dance team mimmick his dance lol

[@kenjutsukata1o1]

One of the World of Warcraft dance emotes was Napoleon's dance, even. It was a big deal.

[@anastasia-fr1gn]

I was young at the time but I remember the older kids, teens and college students were quoting it everyday. The shirts were everywhere.

[@sterlingarcher9208]

"Are you ready to get your groove on?" "yes" ;D

[@Brickhouse917]

So the movie was set in 2004, and the joke is that in rural Idaho, they are a solid 10-15 years behind at all times. Which, in a lot of cases was true according to many locals who saw the movie when it came out.

[@Raptchur]

so for another 10 years or so, rural Idaho would be the place to be. Then it all goes to shit.

[@christiankalk4668]

Rural anywhere tends to be like that. I grew up in a small prairie town that felt a lot like this one. There's a perpetual sense of "some time between 1950 and 2010."

[@brianegendorf2023]

I've had this same issue with some movies based in Asia. Most of the scenes feels like it must be in the 1700s-1800's....and then all of a sudden, you'll see a car go by.. And you realize that the movie takes place somewhere around 1930-60...

[@SeanGetsinger]

As a resident of Idaho born and raised 60 minutes to the north of where this was filmed and based off of…. You are %100 correct. There are a ton of small details that fly under everyone’s radar that you’d only know if you’re from here. As funny as the movie is, it’s scary accurate to the area

[@Brickhouse917]

@@stanford6702 iPods were around, but more new and expensive and most people didn't have them, and honestly not many people had cd burners yet either. People were making mixtapes well into the mid 2000s. Also, it's just a goofy movie, don't overthink it.

[@jacklively5229]

When writer-director Jared Hess was asked when the movie was set, he replied, “Idaho.” “It’s set in Idaho, but when in Idaho?” Hess: “Idaho.”

[@jankydisplay]

Nobody could have anticipated the impact this movie would have at the time. It was quoted for years and beloved by many.

[@shakarussanders9911]

Let me borrow your bike no, come on I'll give you some chips 😂 You have no idea how much that makes me laugh! I no people probably don't really pay attention to that scene 😅

[@TheRumChum]

this and Borat were constantly quoted at school in my gr. 7 and 8

[@LadyIarConnacht]

It was a sleeper hit that just kept on ballooning in popularity. I remember we weren't going to bother going to see it but my sister kept trying to describe it to me, and saying, "You just have to see it for yourselves" and that got our curiosity up.

[@beverleyeliane]

@@TheRumChumsame I still bust out a few of these quotes to this day lol

[@Scooby_Dum]

@@TheRumChumsame lol. Me and my best friend were sent to the office for doing Borat accents in French class lol.

[@7rollface]

Netflix used to have what they called ‘The Napoleon Dynamite Problem”, which is that they had a super-accurate algorithm that could take the things that you viewed and accurately recommend you other things you would like. Except for Napoleon Dynamite. It’s such an odd film that Netflix’s algorithm couldn’t even guess whether or not someone would like it. Netflix even opened it up to the public and offered a prize of, IIRC, a million dollars to anybody who could come up with an algorithm that could predict whether or not someone would like the film.

[@IMBLACKDAMMIT]

do they have a heartbeat. where's my million

[@Cassxowary]

Yahh exactly But really, it’s not even hard lol like recommend it to anyone who likes quaint small town movies

[@twyckoff87]

This is so inaccurate. The million-dollar prize was for designing their general recommendation algorithm.

[@adrianonhilton]

You love the movie but you don't know why, and you kind of hate that you see parts of your self in the varied characters.

[@rg3388]

I was both shocked and delighted to learn how much of this film is autobiographical for its director. Cast is full of relatives, teachers, neighbors, etc.

[@BJBee]

That is AWESOME!

[@anontay916]

So glad you guys enjoyed this one! I went to a screening of this movie a few months ago that Jon Heder (Napoleon), Efrain Ramirez (Pedro) and Jon Gries (Uncle Rico) were at. They stayed after the movie and did a bunch of fun stuff like trivia and then answered audience questions. They seemed like super nice guys. Fun facts I learned: -Jon Heder didn’t fake any of the “stunts”. Getting hit in the face by the steak, getting choked out and slammed into the lockers by the bully (who was actually the real life high school bully of the director’s brother), and even having his crotch absolutely destroyed by that bike (he was wearing a cup) were all essentially real because they had such a small budget and everything had to be done practically and with not a lot of thought toward safety. -Lyle, the farmer with the hard to understand speech, was actually kicked in the head by a horse AND struck by lightning leading to his speech impairments. Also, none of his dialogue was scripted. The director just told him to talk and that’s what they got. -The thing I was most surprised to find out was that Napoleon’s dance moves were completely improvised by Jon Heder. I thought he legit had a dance coach, but he said that the director and he were friends and he knew that Jon was just a really good dancer.

[@shanehebert396]

Jon Heder is definitely a cool guy. I went to a panel he was on at DragonCon and he was really laid back. Found out he speaks Japanese because a woman there was asking a question and English was a second language. She mentioned she spoke Japanese so he answered her question in Japanese and told the rest of us what he was saying. I chatted with him a little afterwards and he was really approachable and chill.

[@barbarapacker5722]

Part of what makes this hilarious is all the 80s references, music, double exposure pictures on the wall, clothing, etc., but is actually 20+ years later.

[@JasonZakrajsek]

@@bebop_557he’s not vegetarian, he just doesn’t eat red meat.

[@luisdawnfinder3188]

As an American who grew up in Washington but has spent lots of time in Idaho I can honestly say this movie is a pretty accurate representation of what life is like lol Also if you guys are confused about the time period just know that Idaho never changes lol

[@marctowersap8018]

hey! ;-) I obje... gosh darn it, you got it right...

[@bloomwiththestars]

Agreed! I lived in Idaho Falls for a summer in the 2000s and it felt like any decade but that one. It was like a time capsule.

[@luisdawnfinder3188]

@@bloomwiththestars I love it for that reason honestly

[@beeaye7944]

I spent 1999 living in Walla Walla for a year and a half when my older Sister went to College out there. People will never understand how accurately Napoleon Dynamite captures that unique "lost in time" aesthetic of that particular region of nowhere.

[@camannwordsmith]

I think this is a similar thing to Beverly Hills Cop, which they also just reacted to and seemed to be perplexed by - it's an age thing. This movie was made for a specific group of people in a specific time, and it perfectly captures what it was trying to do. It probably does feel childlike to younger folks, but it doesn't to me even watching it now, 20 years later. This IS what it was like to grow up in a small town in that time. I don't know if it's really possible to know that if you weren't around for it.

[@JonnyBoomstick]

I was once again reminded of myself watching this 😂 I was at least 90% Napoleon in my high school days. If you were wondering what Napoleon and Pedro were doing inspecting cows and milk, it's because they were in the FFA (Future Farmer's of America) which is a group I was a part of as well 😂

[@okeefe757]

Geoege, don't tell our ball scratching secret to Simone. Jeez.

[@michaelsoria807]

Totally NOT cool George! Major secret leak out!

[@RavagHer]

one does not sniff and tell

[@timholder6825]

Why do women cough when they wake up in the morning? Because they don't have balls to scratch.

[@Amoncarybab]

Equal to revealing Link isn't named Zelda

[@jlinkous05]

​@@michaelsoria807Rule 1: Don't talk about Scratch Club. Rule 2: Do not talk about Scratch Club!

[@RyneMurray23]

I don't know why, but the end always brings a tear to my eyes. "I caught you a delicious bass"😂

[@jubilantsleep]

It’s the adorable smile on her face. She genuinely loves his little antics

[@LockeDemosthenes2]

I used to live in Eastern Idaho. The reason that the movie looks like it's the late 80s or early 90s even though it takes place in the early 00s is that that region of Idaho is always at least 10 years behind the rest of the country culturally. I think it's because of a combination of the region being both super rural and super Mormon.

[@michaelcastillo3231]

Exactly.

[@barbarapacker5722]

I'm from SE Idaho and the reason some of it looks like 70s and 80s is 100% on purpose for humor, to exaggerate already exaggerated stereotypes. We were all laughing at the current setting with all our childhood references. My friend actually played for the high school that took state in '82. I joke if only coach had let Uncle Rico play more, things might have been different. Oh, and "Heck" is totally a Utah/Idaho/Mormon word. 😀

[@alemmingsdeath]

Can confirm. I lived in Rexburg (attended Ricks) in '92 and coming from southern California, I was in complete "culture" shock at how frozen in time the area was. We literally drove around potato fields at night for entertainment, the thrift stores had actual clothes from the 60's/70's, and yeah, Napoleon Dynamite's world is pretty weirdly accurate.

[@DirtCheapFU]

I grew up Milwaukee back in the 90s. We were so behind and you wouldnt know it until your family from out of town would come and visit. 'You don't know what a cellphone is?'

[@ChrissaTodd]

Also the early 2000s were still very 90s

[@CinHotlanta]

Napoleon breaking out the pouch of Big League Chew bubble gum might be the most 80's thing in the whole movie.

[@heyheyjk-la]

HOW THE F**K DID I NEVER KNOW ABOUT THAT END CREDITS SCENE UNTIL NOW??? Also, the ending to this video with George being all awkward was amazing. You guys are the best, GOSH.

[@GenerationalDisappointment]

The end credit scene is my favorite. Wish they would've made it just part of the movie though because so many of my friends who had seen the movie never stuck around to see if there was more.

[@jaykay3784]

I love technology...

[@thajuice100ify]

Same here 🤯

[@JDHutchison]

The end credits scene wasn’t in the original run of the film. After the films unexpected super success, it was filmed and added to the “second” theater run of the film. Also, that post credits scene alone cost almost as much as the entire rest of the film did to film.

[@arandomnamegoeshere]

George has skills.

[@sigcrazy7]

The best part of this movie is that Napoleon, no matter how he is treated, always does the right thing to the people in his life. He is an unconditional friend to others. For example, he does pull Chip to town, even though Chip wouldn’t bring him his chapstick earlier.

[@supernicko123]

This is a movie about such a specific experience. The late 1990s/early 2000s high school experience in a super small town is pretty perfectly captured in this movie. It is hilarious, awkward, nonsensical, and kind of genius all at once!

[@ericbyo9472]

It captured it so well that even gave people whom have never had that experience some form of nostalgia

[@RocketmanRockyMatrix]

In Wyoming

[@mastixencounter]

@@RocketmanRockyMatrix idaho

[@wagstag89]

George got it right about being set in a small town that was stuck like 10 years in the past. Being born in the late 80s and growing up in a small town really made me love this movie from day 1. It captured that strange but charming era so perfectly

[@NandR]

This movie was very divisive when it came out. You either laughed at it or hated it. I avoided it at first. But my sister made me watch it and I loved it. It was a feel good story for a small town. And having grown up in a small town I know what it’s like to be behind 10 years.

[@hellomark1]

It's so divisive it broke prediction algorithms. Like if Netflix could never include it in "if you liked movie X you'll like this" because it's just so OUT there.

[@ericlaw171]

I remember watching it as a teenager and laughing the whole time, but my mom and aunt were like "wtf is this movie?"

[@herr1375]

I am in the category that I think this movie is a hot pile of garbage...but to each their own and I will still give them a thumbs up to help.

[@Acid_Assassin]

Same, and I was in middle school when it came out, as well as living in a small town. So, I could relate to this more than most, and I was the target demographic, but I always thought it sucked and legitimately lost respect for any of my friends opinions who did like it.@@herr1375

[@tommyboy049]

I remember the ones not liking it ended up really hating it the next few years because it was constantly talked about. Shown here and there

[@Kwantomkaos]

When I first saw this movie I didn't realize it was supposed to be a comedy. It felt more like a documentary of my time in high school.

[@sassylashes16]

witch one would you be?

[@janeldavis905]

As someone who grew up in Pocatello, ID, same 😂

[@wickedymike]

@@janeldavis905 Pocatello?! OMG! Of the used-to-be worst city flag "Proud to be Pocatello"? Legendary levels of awful. The new flag is rad though!

[@janeldavis905]

@@wickedymike LOL I've heard of that! Between radioactive parking lots and terrible flag designs, Pocatello keeps popping up in KZbin videos for all the wrong reasons 🤣

[@moonlitegram]

I went on a first date to go see this movie. I was in tears laughing throughout the movie and the woman I was with didn't laugh once. It was the only date we had.

[@bluebird3281]

You should have built her a cake.

[@stevenmonte7397]

Hope you gave her a note that NO!!

[@marcosrua7223]

She is so not worth it

[@joelwillems4081]

Good litmus test to weed out the different personalities. Part of the reason I always liked films as dates. I can usually find something to talk about in every genre of film. But if I'm going on about how great "Hot Fuzz" or "Miracle" is after just watching it and the other person only says they hate it or don't understand it, that's an easy cut scene right there.

[@Insaneian]

I saw this in the theaters with my best friend, and after it ended we looked to each other and asked "when did we write this?" This wasn't just our sense of humor, this was every awkward moment from highschool and every awkward friend we had. It was amazing.

[@oscarcardenas4113]

That thing that Napoleon and Pedro were doing with the cows is part of a program we do here in the US called FFA or Future Farmers of America. It's a program in high school for students who are interested in agriculture. It's mostly provided in areas where there's farming.

[@jjjnettie]

We have a similar thing here in Australia, learning how to grow produce, raising cattle and showing them and wine making.

[@206beastman]

I took 1st place 2001 at uc Davis for poultry judging. High-school highlights

[@EricksonEtc]

FFA also supports students who are into trades, my youngest was FFA president his senior year, and he's a mechanic.

[@noelramirez1551]

Lol I remember I had to draw the FFA logo with some other stuff on a giant banner since I can draw i didn't want to do it shit took forever I wasn't even in FFA just agriculture class

[@CharlieBrown20XD6]

And you can make like a dollar an hour!

[@fauxrowsdower7610]

y'all I'm from southern Idaho and I can tell you this film is a DOCUMENTARY. the skinny colored lockers are still at the Preston high school, the killing a cow in front of screaming kids, the mispronunciation of quesadilla, the wood panel walls, the phone with the long ass cord, all of it is integral to my childhood. this movie is super divisive in Idaho, you either love it or you hate it! i love it personally

[@liamisaac1152]

“Tina you fat lard come get some dinner” was a popular line in my house 😂 I used to say this to my sister anytime it was time for dinner and my mom hated it. Fun fact the actor who played Kip was the one who designed the opening credit sequence. So the hands you see are his and I think he only had like one day or something like that to shoot it. What I love about this movie is the way it just nails rural life and the whole awkwardness of being a teenager. This movie is so random, awkward, and simple. That’s what made us love it so much. Napoleon’s dance was such an iconic moment. I practiced this dance so many times 😂

[@melhenline8438]

My family and I loved that - we said it to each other all the time! Hey, so and so, you fat lard, come get some dinner! 🤣

[@betteryourlife865]

My best friend’s name was Tina so it was extra hilarious to quote that line.

[@aznthy]

a high school teacher who knows less than her students. Now I know why she is an English teacher.

[@liamisaac1152]

@@betteryourlife865Oh life was not kind to the Tina’s of this world after this movie came out 😂

[@anthonyferguson9282]

My quote was the second one. "Tina, come get some ham!"

[@nodak81]

I still don't understand how they managed to capture so much awkwardness so perfectly. I remember nerdy and weird kids that were just like that back when I was in school in the 90's. I was one of them every now and then.

[@michaeldodson4892]

You guys. There’s a movie with Will Ferrel and John Heder ( Napoleon) called Blades of Glory. They’re pro ice skaters, and it might be Ferrel’s funniest movie ever, but it’s a little obscure, so nobody ever reviews it. I really wish you two would check it out, I think you’d love it.

[@asmith9349]

Blades of Glory is one of my favorite comedies ever. It’s so fun! Great suggestion!

[@pistonburner6448]

Yup

[@wagonguy6718]

John Heder was in Benchwarmers also

[@brucegilbert625]

@@wagonguy6718that’s a good one also school for scoundrels with Billy Bob Thornton.

[@ProdByClockwerk]

Fun fact. There’s a scene where Napoleon goes fishing and Pedro asks him later if he has a gift for Deb and he says not unless she likes fish. It was deleted out of the movie, but that’s at the end. He says that he caught her a delicious bass. Also, you should look up the deleted scene if you can find it anywhere of Pedro buying a lottery ticket so Napoleon can pay for the suit which he hides in the thrift store out of the view of the security camera so nobody can buy it before he does.

[@designationzero9979]

I was waiting for the crew to recognize the World of Warcraft Blood Elf dance moves but it went unnoticed.

[@markc4651]

Yeah - for a guy who has Lok'tar Ogar tattooed on his body - that was a real disappointment...

[@Zseventyone]

Don’t know of these moves. Haven’t played Warcraft since before it was World of. Is this something I should try to find?

[@chenstormstout9456]

I was just about to comment this!

[@MrPeteybelljr]

Same lol

[@TwiztidIndica]

How?!

[@williamstevenson8518]

When this movie came out they made "Vote For Pedro" and "Vote For Summer" buttons that you could wear that they handed out at the movie theaters.

[@TropicalHat420]

This movie was the most quotable film of my middle school time. I remember being brought to the theater with 0 understanding or knowledge of what I was walking into and somehow left more confused but I loved it.

[@jlinkous05]

Ending every sentence with GOSH!, the greatest thing of the era besides Shamwow and Oxiclean!

[@treystone9464]

2:29 The era: Don't be fooled by the VHS tapes and dial-up internet. The beginning Yearbook and School ID says its 2004-2005. Napoleon's yellow Rick's College shirt is an outdated secondhand shirt of a school that's now BYU Idaho. You are looking at possibly Idaho, which is 20 years behind in style and good taste.

[@dan_hitchman007]

With its current government, it's more like 100 years behind.

[@michaelw8262]

It is Idaho, which is not the Midwest.

[@treystone9464]

The principal says it's the "Gem State", it is Idaho.

[@michaelw8262]

@@treystone9464 I don't think you read what I wrote.

[@TearYouApart360]

14:04 BTS Fun fact: When Kip's actor drove over the Tupperware it wasn't supposed to break. When it does the actor adlibs the response and decides to put it in drive and take off. The Director decided to keep it.

[@goobertsnoobert9015]

That’s awesome, I’m glad they decided to keep it in cuz it’s one of my favourite one offs in the movie

[@Augusttadu]

This movie spun the meme culture. The awkwardness and dry humor is a masterpiece. It's a shame they never did a sequel.

[@0okamino]

I’m torn between wanting more, and just enjoying that it stands there on its own, awkwardly, yet confidently at the same time.

[@Beefnhammer]

I'm actually glad there's no sequel. Some stories are best left as one standalone thing.

[@jaysax7381]

@@BeefnhammerI think a single college sequel could have worked. Considering the talent of the writers and directors I don’t doubt it would’ve been just as beloved. Or at least a longer cut haha

[@sandmancinema6859]

They did make an animated show on fox.

[@zofitty]

@@sandmancinema6859yeah, & i was so glad they actually did it well. I was skeptical of a napoleon animated show, but now i just want them to make more

[@A-small-amount-of-peas]

Even though it was 2004 this movie definitely felt like a love letter to the 90's MTV generation

[@bayareathrasher666]

80's even...thats the REAL MTV generation

[@dan_hitchman007]

It felt more like the 80's to me.

[@gabedavis3294]

My dad grew up a few miles away from Preston, where this was filmed. He had been in that high school. When he first saw this in the theater, he was the only one laughing, and he was laughing uproariously, because this was just so spot on for rural southeast Idaho.

[@okeefe757]

Deb's actress Tina Majorino has been in a fair amount of things. Her "biggest" thing before this was the Kevin Costner big flop Waterworld from 1995. She was a child actress.

[@kristagerry8505]

Loved her in Andre and Corina Corina ❤

[@michelle6337]

She was also a in all three seasons of Veronica Mars!

[@zammmerjammer]

Waterworld was not a flop by any measure.

[@1ncredulous]

Jon Gries (Uncle Rico) is a well established character actor. You’ll start to see him everywhere. Taken, MiB, LOST, 24, White Lotus.

[@willvr4]

@@zammmerjammer Yeah, for real. It's not a great movie because it's way too long, but financially it made money and still holds up today.

[@rowantwigg9277]

This is such a relatable and feel-good movie. As a 30-something man who experienced similar awkward, outcast, and sometimes lonely teen years, I can wholeheartedly relate to all three main characters. The offbeat humor makes it even more unique and awesome. So glad you guys did this reaction, and even more glad you enjoyed it as much as we do. A true gem🙂

[@jamielandis4308]

Many of the situations in this movie are based on actual experiences of the writers, including the cow being shot in front of a school bus full of kids. Big League Chew is bubble gum.

[@ridleysaria]

Napoleon awkwardly playing tether ball by himself is my school experience.

[@stobe187]

To me this movie is much more enjoyable than many straightforward cringe/awkward comedies because it's so clearly infused with a ton of heart and warmth. I just love the stilted (in a good way) mood of the whole town and it's inhabitants. Kip steals every scene he's in, and there are a bunch of amazing side characters. Uncle Rico is hilarious - and his shirts are mint. Bona fide classic film for me. I think if you were among the "popular kids" back in the day you might not get this film, it's very much for the underdogs. I love it.

[@Chamomileable]

This movie is an insane phenomenon. It's just a weird little movie that's sincere about what it is. It's strange but fun. I think that distribution and marketing from MTV really helped this take off as a cultural hallstone of the mid-2000s.

[@claymccoy]

This movie is set in Preston, Idaho. The film is set during the 2004-2005 school year, as shown on Napoleon's student ID card in the title sequence.

[@johntaylor7029]

According to one of my relatives who knows a little ASL the happy hands club scene is fairly good signing and that Napoleon has a lot of emotion and passion when he signs.

[@kevinehle6637]

I live in Idaho. I've been through Preston, ID many times. Preston is proud of this movie. This is the director's home town. This accurately represents life in Preston around the year 2,000.

[@whitehhe]

This movie has endless rewatchability. The more times you watch it the funnier it gets. Lines were quoted from this movie nonstop for YEARS at my house-and they still are!! “Tina, you fat lard,” “going to build a cake or something,” “girls want guys with skills,” “can I have your tots,” “want a roundhouse kick to the face with these bad-boys,” and especially “I want that” in that hilarious accent!! One thing that you missed is that there IS a point to the story. Not only is it a slice of life in rural Idaho in the 90’s, almost everyone can recognize the feelings of awkwardness associated with their high school years. On top of that, it’s the story of everyone embracing the awkwardness and prickly parts of ourselves and finding acceptance. By the end of the story everyone has learned something new about themselves, grown, and found their own version of happiness.

[@modernmajorgeneral4669]

"Nunchuck skills, bow hunting skills, computer hacking skills."

[@zysac1018]

When Jared and Jerusha Hess were asked when this movie was set, they responded "Idaho".

[@gsquat]

Small towns often struggle with cultural updates. That's the idea here. It's set around 03, but the fashions and forms are more 80's-90's.

[@BeRadMH]

I love the ease of this movie. There's no real plot, things just happen but they're interesting enough to keep watching. You can just shut your brain off and enjoy it for what it is.

[@xcmvp2007]

"I want that." something about the delivery and the facial expressions.

[@BRUXXUS]

One of my favorite little moments. Slays me every time!

[@MrDevintcoleman]

This came out when I was in high school and we asked our English teacher her thoughts and her response was, “I can’t endorse a movie with a protagonist without any redeeming qualities.” 😂 Also, Uncle Rico is a truly tragic character and he plays it so well. Definitely one of the best performances in the movie. Also, also, I ran for student council president against one of my best friends and we agreed neither of us were allowed to say the “all your wildest dreams will come true” line because it would have guaranteed that person would win!

[@claudiadarling9441]

I think Napolean's redeeming quality is he keeps trying. He doesn't let any failures or embaresments get him down for long. And he doesn't get stuck on some past goal that didn't work out like Uncle Rico.

[@GenerationalDisappointment]

Good to know your English teacher didn't understand the movie at its base

[@mage1439]

@@claudiadarling9441 He's also incredibly loyal. This teacher doesn't know ish.

[@MrDevintcoleman]

@@mage1439 agreed. She was great but very much a traditionalist in what kind of media she enjoyed. We used to call a particular hand gesture she’d do when about to explain why your interpretation of something was wrong “the Murphy chop.” Hand flat, palm up, and chop down with the other one haha!

[@antpat]

Now you know why she's a high school English teacher

[@SoapyTurtles]

I will always remember on my last day of eighth grade, a group of seniors from the high school came to like welcome us to officially becoming high schoolers and telling us about the great experiences they had in high school and doing the whole inspirational speech thing, it was very sweet. When they were all done, one of the seniors got on stage and did the Napoleon Dynamite dance and, at this point, the movie was like 6 years old but EVERYONE still knew it because it was just like so iconic back in the day. And when he finished the dance, the eighth graders clapped for him for like 2 minutes straight, he got a goddamn standing ovation from us because he did that dance PERFECT. I go back to this movie for nostalgia and because that memory makes the movie just a little more special to me!

[@Apethantos]

You guys got to experience this masterpiece for the first time? Luckyyyyy......

[@chrisgrove7829]

I love the quirky independent vibe of this film, and love it when films like this are actually successful. Love the message, and love Jon Gries as the lovable yet sleazy Uncle Rico who’s stuck in his football glory year of 1982:)

[@Bodanki]

Love this movie. Its so wholesome. It's awkward, but most teenagers are awkward, especially the "unpopular" kids. Too late now, but they should have made a sequel. Also, they got the rights to the Backstreet Boys music because Haylie and Hilary Duff grew up with Aaron and Nick Carter. I think Hilary and Nick dated briefly, they split but the families remained friends. Both Duff sisters were at Aaron Carter's funeral. The Hess Brothers lucked out casting Haylie Duff because the rights to a song like that would normally cost more than this movies entire budget which was less than 400k if I recall.

[@Koofteh]

They did put out an adult cartoon about ten years ago. I thought it was pretty good but only lasted a few episodes.

[@jaysax7381]

@@KooftehI thought the cartoon was pretty good too, it’s a shame so many people act like it desecrates on the sanctity of the film lmao

[@HK-47_Meatbag]

As somebody who lives nearby this setting, I can confirm it is early 2000's rural Idaho and nothing is exaggerated. It's like 2 decades in the past and everyone wears second hand clothing.

[@Morrison64]

This is probably my most favorite reaction ive seen anyone react to of napoleon dynamite, the confusion and awkwardness I got from you two was just the best, I lived in a area in british columbia that is so similiar in geography it was almost as if my life was a paraell version of the world in the movie and one of my best friends is a spinning image of napolean dynamite

[@MithrilMagic]

My nephew dressed like Kip for Halloween when this movie came out. He was around 11 years old. It was HILARIOUS! He had a microphone and sang the wedding song. It was so great!

[@lessismoore1672]

This is the only movie I went to the theater to see 3 times. Every time I went with new people to introduce them to it. It became a staple among my friend group. Easily the best moviegoing experience I’ve ever had in a theater was the first time I saw this. I legit was crying from laughter the ENTIRE time. But I guess I can see how it’s not for everyone. So glad it was for me though.

[@kevinjs26]

I watched this in the theater when it came out. I was confused but never laughed so hard in my life. The laughter brought me to tears so many times. Memories.

[@dIggl3r]

That dance was "so good" that Blizzard introduced it to the male Blood Elves in World of Warcraft, in the Burning Crusade expansion. 💙

[@hammerpocket]

The funny thing about Uncle Rico's shirts is that they aren't 80s style at all, because when he was in high school in this small town they were ten years behind, so he's wearing shirts that look like what boys would have worn in the early 70s.

[@MisterRawgers]

This movie came out when I was in middle school and everyone was quoting it. Such a classic 😂

[@ryankimbell8762]

Re: Time setting. I went to school in a big city and noticed when I'd go back home that the 'new music' radio stations were still playing songs that the city stations stopped playing years ago. So I can totally see rural Idaho being 10 years behind in culture, fashion, etc, especially before the internet became ubiquitous.

[@randieandjodistrom854]

I loved this movie from the first time I watched it but it took me a while to figure out why. What I came to realize is the dichotomy of the character of Napoleon Dynamite in that he is simultaneously everything we don't want to be, i.e., socially awkward, seemingly slow, frustrated, but at the same time embodies the qualities of loyalty and indefatigability that we admire. I think that all of the kids who weren't part of the "popular crowd" in high school can relate to Napoleon's character in one way or another.

[@BrianKapellusch]

"Canned Heat" by Jamiroquai was released in 1999, so if the music isn't supposed to be out of time, then it makes the setting 1999 or later. Plus the online chatting thing implies that it takes place during the internet age, unless it was pre-internet online chatting like AOL, CompuServe, BBSs, but I doubt it. But to answer your question if it's the 80s. No, It's just Idaho :)

[@jaysax7381]

The year is shown on napoleons student ID card: it’s the 2003-2004 school year

[@hoopsmccann9228]

The film is set during the 2004-2005 school year, as shown on Napoleon's student ID card in the title sequence. The film contains several culturally retroactive elements harkening back to the 1980s or 1990s. For example, Deb wears a side ponytail and Napoleon wears Moon Boots, both popular fashion trends of the 1980s. ~Wiki

[@Madly_Zen]

This movie was so funny as a kid to me, growing up in rural middle America in the early 2000s everything looked exactly like this as a kid to me in my memories. My brother even used the whiny “dang it” when he won prom king. Nothing else, just “dangit” like napoleon

[@erik....]

I had a Vote for Pedro shirt at my first job early 2000's and got called Pedro by the older people. This was in a small town in Sweden where noone knew about this movie.

[@solaralloyd6157]

This movie was based on Jared Hess' experience growing up in Preston, Idaho. This town is near wear i live and the filming was done there as well. Many of the local residents were used as extras.

[@treystone9464]

18:30 It's Big League Chew, a shredded bubble gum that comes in a pouch so kids can imitate the baseball players. So, he swallowed an odd and dated gum.

[@matthewzeller5026]

4:30 It wasn't a mistake, it was dedication to the joke. If you look back you can see they removed the middle support brick for the ramp when Napoleon tries the jump.

[@Raven5150]

Simone needs to adopt the side ponytail look

[@Scooterpie45]

Cant believe George didnt notice that Napolean's dance was also the Blood Elf males dance in WOW.

[@robsonleao]

Very surprising indeed.... as it is so unique.

[@Trepanation21]

LMAO GEORGE HOW DID YOU NOT

[@TwiztidIndica]

he must comment on that

[@bs321321]

You two kept pointing out things being old. My mother had to explain this phenomenon to me because she lived it. Rural areas and small towns are at least a decade behind in technology, fashion, and all manner of trends. This movie takes place in the early 2000s, but it's southern Idaho and northern Utah.

[@Taramw32]

The stuff Napoleon put in his mouth during the dance was gum called “Big League Chew” (popular in the 80s). Good stuff!

[@dan_hitchman007]

Hey kids! Learn to chew tobacco through chewing gum! What harm could come from it??

[@Taramw32]

@@dan_hitchman007 If that’s not your thing, we have candy cigarettes!

[@estoy1001]

This could have been a semi-autobiographical film of my nephew's life. He identified with it so much, and he was essentially (behaviorally) like Napoleon before this came out. When he showed us the movie, I understood why he liked it, but my mom thought it was sad.

[@bamjo8750]

I don't know if this is a good movie, but there is something about it that just sticks in my brain more than other films. My family still quotes lines from it all the time.

[@chriskola3822]

This movie is a masterclass in awkwardness. The number of emotional scars from highschool this opened for me is beyond counting.

[@KirkJordan]

The almost-ending only makes sense when you connect. "VOTE FOR Pedro and all your wildest dreams will come true" to all the events that happen soon after. From Uncle Ricco to Pedro, Kip and Napoleon....all their dreams DO come true.

[@kimberlyp8870]

The actor who plays Rex, Diedrich Bader, also plays Peter's next door neighbor in Office Space. He's such a versatile actor. You never know where he'll pop up lol

[@stobe187]

Bader kills pretty much every role he's in.

[@hellomark1]

His Batman in Batman: The Brave and the Bold is pretty great too

[@jjjnettie]

He's brilliant as "Jethro" in the Beverly Hillbillys reboot. I loved him in the Drew Carey Show.

[@ChrissaTodd]

He's also in sn episode of fresh prince as the family members white bf and the drew Carey show as Oswald I've gotten responses from him on Twitter he seems super normal and appreciates talking about stuff he's done.

[@stobe187]

@@ChrissaTodd I've also interacted with him on twitter and he seems like a really nice dude!

[@Dayman87]

So fun fact, the Blood Elf Male dance From World Of Warcraft is based off the dance Napoleon does at the end, that's how popular the dance became in the mid 2000's

[@JackMValentine]

This is one of those movies that really kicked off the indy film explosion of the early 2000s. This and like, Juno. The whole sketch book cutout asthetic and awkward protagonist.

[@chrisherber1635]

It feels like 80’w and 90’s because that small town in Idaho is just so far behind the big cities of America. It’s just how it is, and I think that’s cool!

[@bobevans3209]

I went to see this in theater when it came out and ended up leaving in the middle because I thought it was just dumb. I watched it again when it came out on DVD and completely changed my mind. One of my favorite comedies!

[@AgentofChaos315]

That steak toss was the first take by the way, it was the only one they did since they knew he'd never be able to make that throw again

[@andrewtillman7605]

This is one of the best comedies I’ve ever seen. I remember seeing a movie poster of it at the theaters not knowing what it was. I took a chance on seeing it and I was blown away. I immediately went home and brought my sister to see it, and we have been quoting it ever since.

[@JugheadJones03]

I hope beyond hope that for a Halloween treat video Simone and George post a video of them cosplay doing the Dance scene together! 😂

[@richardb6260]

Jon Heder did the Top Ten List in character as Napoleon Dynamite on David Letterman's show. He ended it the same way he ended his dance routine.

[@ericjohnson6120]

This might be the most accurate depiction of high school Hollywood has made.

[@chrispruett81]

George- "It's a habit from scratching balls... every guys knows" LMFAO!!! Sooo true Simone! haha

[@ClintonPlaatjies-md9yl]

The brilliant performances from the cast made this enjoyable

[@calemobrien1139]

One of the most quotable & funniest movies ever😂😂😂 "gosh...freakin idiot" "can I have some of your tots?" "Girls only want boyfriends who have great skills" sooooo good!!!!!!!!!

[@msmrsro]

Deb is played by Tina Majorino. Much younger she played in the Kevin Costner epic movie Waterworld. My personal favorite adult role for her was Mac in the Veronica Mars TV series and movie. THAT is such a great show, a favorite in our house; definitely worth checking out. A dark comedy drama; teen girl falls out of favor after her Sheriff Father bungles the investigation of the murder of a wealthy family, her best friend. He becomes a PI and she by relation, to solve the true crime, with other crimes sprinkled in. Definitely a mood, with great music.

[@joelbyrnes6946]

To answer the question about when this movie was set... The answer actually lies in the question WHERE was it set... Idaho. I'm not from the US, but shortly after I saw the movie I saw talk about how accurately it portrayed life in rural Idaho. Apparently the place is almost stuck in a time. Mostly the 80s but shades 70s and 90s and the modern early 2000s too, all still hanging around in the fashion, cars, food, etc.