"goes to college", not "went to college." If it's the best joke ever written in a move (to you), you should at least try to remember the quote correctly.
The unsung heroes of this film are Summer and her bf Don expertly played by Haylie Duff and Trevor Snarr. They gave a perfect non violent, arrogant antagonism that was a greater hurdle than the very physical bullying by Randy. I personally loved Trevor’s crazy, zany, extremely over the top portrayal of Don. Like when he stood and cheered after Summer’s dance thing. Very funny actor. Everyone was perfect for their roles and really committed to this strange idea of a movie. I fell in love with it when I was young. Give it another shot because it’s a great second watch.
They should have known that time travel modules won’t work in Idaho. It’s already a temporal anomaly in which several decades of the past somehow exist both chronologically and simultaneously, while the present and future are always delayed.
Your reaction cut out the SINGULAR shot that I will always watch the entire movie for, and that's when Napoleon and Deb high-five after playing tetherball at the end of the movie. That shot makes me choke up every time. It took me a while to figure out why I enjoyed this movie so much, and I finally realized it's because the character of Napoleon Dynamite is probably the most dichotomous character I've ever seen. He's simultaneously what none of us want to be, i.e., socially awkward, but also who we all really want to be, genuine, honest, loyal, indefatigable. I love that the character of Deb recognizes this--she gets it. Deb and Napoleon are a power couple that will be able to overcome every challenge life throws at them, because to them, it is Deb and Napoleon against the world.
I watched this movie on DVD a few years after it came out. The DVD was scratched and so I couldn't see the final dance! I watched it on youtube, though. A couple of years later I heard a talk by an associate producer (not Jared Hess.) He said they needed a cow to stand in front of the school bus that was good with people. They called random phone numbers in Preston Idaho. (All phone numbers started with the first three numbers, so they dialed a random 4-digit number.) After the fourth call, they got some farmer that could bring a cow to the filming location easily. He also said the students in Preston Idaho who were in the movie helped create a buzz at the Sundance Film Festival. They drove 2 hours to Park City Utah to see themselves in the movie. The other filmgoers started to notice the crowd!
Always my favorite bit is Rex Kwon Do. Just friggen hilarious. They nailed the vibe of a commercial for a local thing, like an auto dealer or something
There are two camps of people who love this movie: Those who crack up at the cringe and those who actually identify with it. The scene with the cow had me in tears. I could not fathom where they were going with it. When the bus with the kids drove by I nearly died.
Well, I laugh at the cringe _because_ I identify with it. I love that it’s done in a way that isn’t really mean-spirited about it, and is really rather sweet.
Hello Yasmina, nice to see you!😊This film was released by Fox Searchlight, Fox's independent branch. They did not expect the film to be very successful. The film made $46 million against a $400,000 budget. Summer is played by a young blonde Haylie Duff, Hilary Duff's older sister. Great reactions to this unique comedy, Yasmina!!!!🎬👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Indie movies from this era definitely have a certain vibe to them - the characters, the soundtracks, even the color-grading. In my mind, I always closely associate this movie and Miranda July’s Me and You and Everyone We Know.
I saw this a couple of years after it had come out on the Independent Film Channel. I was sitting at home bored out of my mind one weekend & BAM! I was hooked. The music in the background was so hokey & the lives of everyone in that miserable little town made my own boring life look pretty exciting by comparison. LOVED Napoleon Dynamite.
I named my yorkie Tina because she was a rescue who wouldn't eat dog food. Wasted like $100 finding something she would eat and to this day I still say "Tina! Eat your food" when she is being picky.
I guess this movie is very polarizing in terms of people loving it or hating it. I think you're the only person I've seen who seems to be on the fence, but I'm putting you in the at least "liking it" box. I bet it grows on you and you'll find yourself thinking about certain scenes, etc. But yeah it tends to break algorithms, like the "if you liked x, you'll like y." There's almost no movies that they can use to predict if you'll like this movie, and if you like this movie, they can't tell if you'd like other movies. It kinda stands by itself. This is probably my favourite reaction.
Thank god! I’m so happy for you. Maybe go the extra mile and check out Gentleman Broncos by the same people who brought you THIS! Rex Kwon Do said: FORGET ABOUT IT!!!!
Such a great movie, ultra quotable! BTW any chance you could put all your movie reactions in a playlist? would make it easier to find between the series reactions :D
I'm sorry but I'm just thinking of the right words to say (I promise you) I know they don't sound the way I planned them to be (I promise you) But if you wait around a while I'll make you fall for me (I promise you) I promise, I promise you, I will
To be fair, although Uncle Rico is a bit of an unscrupulous salesman, he is NOT a pedophile, nor a molester. He simply sees what he thinks are potential sales "marks" (in the girls), and tries to "charm" them (in his own creepy way) into buying the "bust enhancer" herbs.
I did watch the after credits scene! When I was going through reviews on letterboxd, one of them mentioned the post credits scene so I went back and watched it
I’ve watched a lot of reaction channels and I know you have to get around copyright. I’m just suggesting, because I love your commentary. Just let the scene kind of play out. Like with the “pocket tots” you reacted to it great but not seeing the joke fully unfold where he kicked them. It doesn’t land the same (kind it like napoleons grandma). Yea we have all seen the movie and know what happens. You just have to flow with it. Your commentary is great, editing on this not so much
I think people from the city might not enjoy this movie as much as people not form the city. I think people that want to be cool don't like this movie.
