We watched “Napoleon Dynamite” last night. This film seemed to be very polarizing among my peers, who either loved it or hated it. So, going into it I tried to keep an open mind, and that includes being prepared to dislike it, because when I first saw trailers for this movie it did look like something I would find funny.
But I didn’t. I just found it annoying. I didn’t care about a single one of the characters, with the exception of Pedro, who for some reason I wanted to see more of and find out more about. They should have made the whole movie about him and called it “Pedro Sanchez,” with a supporting role for his stupid friend Napoleon.
Near the end of the movie I realized another reason I disliked it: None of the characters EVER SMILED. Particularly the main character, who has the same sedated, dopey, mouth-breathing expression on his face the entire time. Was he deeply medicated? Some of the supporting players may have cracked a smile or two. It’s a weird thing to notice, but I realized that it really cast a flat tone on the whole film.
Also it was clear that the writer-director of the movie was trying to be “weird” and “cute,” a lot. Trying VERY hard. At the expense of character development. Who were these people? No explanation for where the mom and dad were. The older brother acted really, really gay, but then ends up happily running off with his internet girlfriend. The whole thing was just pointless and directionless. And again, the only interesting character was the sidekick, Pedro. I can’t explain why, but maybe he was just a much better actor than the rest of the cast, even though he didn’t have enough to do.
Anyway. Last weekend we also Netflixed “Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle.” I really liked this one. I could look past the over-the-top silly gags and cheap titty jokes because the characters were interesting and believable, and the script had something to say other than “two stoners on an adventure.” It had kind of a “quest movie” plot, even if it was ridiculous. It kept moving forward, and the main characters were able to express more than one or two emotions.
Next in the queue is “Garden State,” another one people liked or hated. I’m already sure I’ll like it more than “Napoleon Dynamite.”
So i am sorta i the middle of the camp of Napoleon haters/lovers. like, i thought some of it was funny, but then found it to be like a bunch of MTV vignettes thrown together. lots of quotable things but i left the theatre kinda like “huh, thats all?” Kevin and Carlos both disliked it.
Garden State: i was surprised at how underwhelmed i was watching that movie. Skip and i were both like “eh.”
Did you see Sideways????
now that is an outstanding movie.
me liking Sideways but not so into Napoleon Dynamite probably screams “Olivia is getting old!”. which is fine, because i want to run not walk and see Sideways again.
Yeah, it was like a bunch of “bits,” but if you are trying to form a narrative plot about people, how about having it make sense and be something people can identify with or believe? I just didn’t care after awhile. I will admit I laughed at a few things, but sometimes I was laughing because I was thinking, “stupid sight gag, but …. why???”
I loved “Sideways.” A few people have problems with that one too, but I think that may have to do with overhype. I would totally see that one again. And the Oscars have proved themselves again to be a complete scam by not nominating Giamatti.
I think I already mentioned in my LJ that Pedro’s cousins were the only thing I liked about that movie.
Yes! Again, make the whole movie Pedro riding around in the car with his cousins and I’m much more satisfied.
I had totally forgotten your review of this, I will go back and re-read.
We just saw Garden State and loved it, despite my deep and abiding distaste for Natalie Portman.