Posted on 01/06/2005 4:40:46 AM PST by goldstategop
Illegal aliens are invading our country and an army of some 20 million now occupy it.
150,000 are known dead in South Asia and up to 1 million are homeless due to the tsunamis.
The 109th U.S. Congress is convening.
But, don't worry. I've got some good news for you.
And, no, I didn't just save a boatload of money on my car insurance.
There's a movie sweeping the nation right now, capturing the imaginations of young Americans, making them laugh and entertaining them – and doing all that without sex, violence, obscenity or profanity. There's nothing politically correct about it. There's no deep message in the film. It's not intended to be socially redeeming. And, unlike the biggest box-office hit of the hour, there's nothing even offensive about the name of the film.
But it is funny.
Very, very funny.
Very strange and very, very funny.
This independent film was made on a budget of $400,000 and has grossed more than $44 million.
When the DVD was released for Christmas, Fox shipped 2.5 million copies – about twice the number you would expect for a movie that grossed $44 million. It sold 1.35 million copies the first day, making it the top-selling DVD for Christmas week. As a result, Fox ordered another million copies.
Yet, when I tell you the name of this movie, many are going to say: "Never heard of it."
Are you ready?
"Napoleon Dynamite."
Ever hear of it?
If you haven't, your kids have.
And it might be a good idea to buy the DVD, sit down and watch it with them.
It's just good, clean fun.
Grown-ups are not supposed to get the humor in this movie. And some of them clearly don't. When it was released, stuffed-shirt critic Roger Ebert described it as "a kind of studied stupidity that sometimes passes as humor." Another critic said it "may be the most condescending comedy ever ..."
Like I always say: There's no accounting for taste.
I admit this is a very different kind of movie – and not for everyone. But I have seen it three times now and I could easily watch it four more. I laugh a little harder every time.
The appeal of the movie is that it captures life in high school. Yet, aside from a few language quirks peculiar to this particular generation, there's transcendency to "Napoleon Dynamite." This 2004 glimpse of high-school life is strikingly similar to my own experiences some 35 years ago.
Don't ask me what happens in this movie. The only answer is "not much." That's not the point. It's not about plot. It's about characters – funny, goofy, recognizable misfits of all ages.
Imagine "Seinfeld" set in a suburban high-school environment. If you can picture that, you may begin to picture what you are in for when you rent or buy the DVD this weekend.
I don't recommend movies often. I only watched this one because my 18-year-old daughter brought home the DVD and asked her parents to watch it with her. I'm glad she did.
Your son or daughter might not bring it to your attention.
Why don't you get the jump on them and bring it home yourself?
If you do, here's my advice:
See it with an open mind.
Don't let me raise your expectations too high and ruin it for you. (After all, nothing much happens in this movie.)
And tell me if you don't think there is something redemptive about this geeky movie.
>Ever hear of it?
(in best Napoleon imitation)
Vote for Pedro!!!
I disagree, and I think the lack of exaggeration is the very thing that hinders those who don't get it. Most contemporary movies hit one over the head with crude humor and/or action that is well beyond believability. The humor and contrasts of this movie are subtle. The scenes are believable. I have known people like some of the characters in the film; I expect most people have. And I think the films’ charm comes from the goofy displays of ineptitude from characters who are not necessarily stupid – blind spots on parade… With the exception of the cow scene there are few belly laughs, but it is a funny film that just keeps growing on you.
My sons and I had a similar experience with a much worse and different film; UHF. It is corny, and Weird Al is a terrible actor – the worst of the film. But the goofy scenes and catch phrases grow on you. Watch it a few times and when one of your kids has a Napoleon moment you too will be telling him, “STUPID! – YOU SO STUPID!”
Eh. I saw this a few weeks ago. It looked good from the outside. The guy playing the main character was great, the rest of the movie wasn't so much. It wasn't what I thought it was going to be, so maybe that's why I didn't care for it. There are loads better high-school comedies. Even within the last few years. "Saved" comes to mind (though probably not for the younger kids, for language and sexuality and stuff). It wasn't terrible, though.
dead on.
I loved this movie - I do think I'll buy it. I laughed out loud during it more than any movie I have seen in a long time.
I liked "Team America" too, but it's nice to see you can get belly laughs without obscenity.
I thought that was funny.
LOL.....Jon is way ahead of his time
Really? My sister rented it last week - she said it was hilarious - I thought it was possibly the dumbest movie I'd ever seen. Maybe I just didn't get it. It felt like the lead up to a joke without the punchline ever being revealed.
Different folks, different tastes, I guess.
The point is that it IS dumb.
It reminded me of something my brothers would come up with - completely random stuff. And no, there's no plot.
But I still thought it was funny. Not as funny as my siblings did, but funny. It gets quoted a lot.
I saw it five times before the DVD came out, then I bought the DVD for all six of my married kids for Christmas. But I had to search to find copies. It sold out of all the major stores within three hours on the first day. It put me in mind of Raising Arizona when I first saw it. Just kind of off beat, but fascinating.
Have you seen this movie?
Do you want your tots?
BTW great soundtrack too.
I too, (as a 49 year old) watched it over the Christmas vacation with my 22, 19, & 17 year old kids. I had never heard of it before. I rarely sit through the entire movie of 90% of what they rent, but this one will definitely be a cult classic. The bicycle scene, the cow scene, and dance scene were hilarious, IMHO. If anyone can't laugh at those sophomoric scenes, then their escape hatch is puckered too tight. Loosen up! Anyone who can make a movie today for $400K and make $44 million and climbing gets my vote for business genius. Just like the Night of The Living Dead back in my days, it's a cult movie thing. I keep a DVD of NOTLD in my personal library and watch it every so often, and I'll watch it again and again. I may buy ND for my son for his birthday next week, then I can watch it again to see what I missed the first time. Sweet!
We watched it last week and it's a boring, unfunny movie. And we watch a lot of alternative flicks, so it's not like we 'don't get it'. If anyone wants to see a really funny low-budget movie, try 'Eurotrip'.
Are you drinking 1% cause you think you're fat?
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