Napoleon Dynamite (2004)

Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jon Heder, Efren Ramirez, Jon Gries

Synopsis:
A socially awkward high schooler befriends a new student at his school who decides to run for class president.

Impressions:
I'm not much of a fan of high school fiction. It usually has this romanticized view of a period many people are happy to forget even happened. However, this is probably the most real-to-life portrayal I've seen. A lot of attention will be directed toward the main character's social awkwardness, but honestly, just about every character in the film is nearly as bad and if this unrelenting quirkiness appeals to you, it's a fun ride. However, if you're one of those types who think this is too far out there, it just won't click. I'm not saying you're right or wrong one way or the other, but the appeal of this film is for a somewhat particular audience (quite possibly one that has more in common with the characters than not). Though it led to him being typecast in his fifteen minutes of fame, Jonathan Heder really shines as the title character and his interactions with the other characters is a lot of fun to watch. While this movie isn't for everyone, it's worth a watch at the very least.

Rating:
Watch It