napoleon-dynamite

Napoleon Dynamite (2004)

An awkward teen learns how to dance.

“Look at these small town nerds!” this movie screams vindictively, “they’re just like the nerds you knew in school! Aren’t they hilarious?”

Um, no.

Granted, the mannerisms are perfect, but little else is: These characters aren’t even as well drawn as Beavis & Butthead. Napoleon and Pedro don’t fit in, but in this weird “Idaho” world, who would want to? Everybody sucks! Even the “cool” uncle is such a phony pastiche it’s hard to watch for 95 minutes. The actors’ wincingly pathetic portrayals are probably grounds for a lawsuit from the Spectrum Defamation League (I already called the SDL but the line was busy).

This movie is so bad that when the terrible Jamiroquai’s ’90 disco came on, it actually sounded pretty good! Maybe I am a Jamiroquai fan now?

Check it out if you are into feel-bad movies, student body elections, or incorrect side-ponies.

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Ajax Green

Ajax Green

Ajax Green lives in Oakland, California, and watches a lot of movies.

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