Napoleon Dynamite

Indie film about teenage dork celebrates the youthful underdog.

"...Aaron Ruell, Tina Majorino, Diedrich Bader and Sandy Martin. Napoleon Dynamite (Heder) is a teenage dork. Not a hey-let’s-put-glasses-on-Rachael-Leigh-Cook..."

June 25, 2004 Movie Review by Marrit Ingman

Napoleon: Dynamite!

The former Zappa sax man does it for the kids

"...with the Paul Green School of Rock kids and Napoleon Murphy Brock. The sax player is best known for..."

April 7, 2009 Music Post by Margaret Moser

Eagle vs Shark

Like Napoleon Dynamite, Eagle vs Shark is a little wisp of a movie, a lightweight feature loaded with montage and hung on the multidimensional performance of Loren Horsley as Lily.

"...This Miramax import, developed at the Sundance Institute, is Napoleon Dynamite in its 20s, a dork-chic romance about two..."

July 20, 2007 Movie Review by Marrit Ingman

Gentlemen Broncos

With this new film, Jared Hess elicits none of the naive charm or flagrant silliness of his earlier movies, Napoleon Dynamite and Nacho Libre.

"...his wife, Jerusha, two of the decade’s weirder offerings: Napoleon Dynamite and Nacho Libre. Their lucky streak stops dead..."

Nov. 6, 2009 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

Rocket Science

On the surface, Rocket Science is yet another quirky high school movie, but its story of a stutterer who's enticed into joining the debate team is special in its own way.

"...little bit Welcome to the Dollhouse, a touch of Napoleon Dynamite, and a healthy dose of Thumbsucker. But, like..."

Aug. 24, 2007 Movie Review by Toddy Burton

... Vs Liger?

New Zealander Taika Waititi doesn't mind if you compare his charmed comedy to Napoleon Dynamite

"...authenticity of a movie that has drawn comparisons to Napoleon Dynamite. "I don't really mind that. We watched Napoleon..."

March 9, 2007 Screens Feature by James Renovitch

Nacho Libre

This sophomore outing from the director of Napoleon Dynamite is full of cheesy goodness, courtesy of Jack Black, but a little goes a long way.

"...the WWE has done recently, this sophomore outing from Napoleon Dynamite director Hess is full of cheesy goodness, but..."

June 16, 2006 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

Hot Rod

Cross Napoleon Dynamite's endearing optimism with Ben Stiller's total commitment to his goofy characters, and you'll wind up with a character something like Andy Samberg's hapless stuntman.

"...Sissy Spacek, Will Arnett and Chris Parnell. Imagine if Napoleon Dynamite were to pretend to be Ben Stiller, slap..."

Aug. 3, 2007 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

Raiders!: The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made

The epic story of three kids inspired by Spielberg's adventure tale

"...Raiders!, co-directed by Napoleon Dynamite participants Jeremy Coon and Tim Skousen, recounts and..."

June 17, 2016 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

Don Verdean

Fourth comedy feature from the pair who made Napoleon Dynamite

"...who scored big in 2004 with their debut film, Napoleon Dynamite. Don Verdean follows in the comedic footsteps of..."

Dec. 11, 2015 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

Austenland

Keri Russell plays a woman who vacations in a Jane Austen fantasy camp, but the film is lacking in sense and sensibility.

"...egregiously, first-time feature director Jerusha Hess (who previously co-wrote Napoleon Dynamite, Nacho Libre, and Gentlemen Broncos) and her co-writer,..."

Sept. 6, 2013 Movie Review by Kimberley Jones

Oscar-Nominated Short Films 2010: Live Action

Judge for yourself among the five films contending for this year's Oscar for live-action short. The five international shorts nominated for Best Live Action Short Film include Patrik Eklund’s “Instead of Abracadabra," Luke Doolan's “Miracle Fish," Juanita Wilson's “The Door,” Gregg Helvey's “Kavi," and Joachim Back’s award-winning “The New Tenants.”

"...bleak business, but it pushes the same buttons as Napoleon Dynamite, Arrested Development, the entire Wes Anderson oeuvre –..."

Feb. 19, 2010 Movie Review by Kimberley Jones

When in Rome

Kristen Bell stars as a woman who pulls three coins from a fountain … and three new beaus in the process.

"...is a tortured artist, Shepard a preening male model, Napoleon Dynamite’s Heder a goth-y illusionist, and de Vito a..."

Feb. 5, 2010 Movie Review by Kimberley Jones

Adventures of Power

All Power wants is to be the best possible air drummer he can be.

"...Adrian Grenier. With the goofy confidence of a latter-day Napoleon Dynamite, a young man in New Mexico elects to..."

Oct. 23, 2009 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

School for Scoundrels

Although it stars Billy Bob Thornton and Napoleon Dynamite's Jon Heder and is jam-packed with multitalented comedians and stars, School for Scoundrels is just not funny.

"...Scoundrels is not only unfunny, it’s completely forgettable. Heder (Napoleon Dynamite) plays a shy and insecure meter maid named..."

Sept. 29, 2006 Movie Review by Toddy Burton

The Benchwarmers

Another comedy from ex-SNLers, along with Napoleon Dynamite's Jon Heder and baseball's Reggie Jackson.

"...this film. After his iconic performance in the breakout Napoleon Dynamite, it’s a sad sight to see this young..."

April 14, 2006 Movie Review by Toddy Burton

Paramount Lights Up With Summer Classics Series

Your favorite way to get out of the heat is back

"...and it's back with a special headlining screening of Napoleon Dynamite...."

May 16, 2019 Screens Post by Richard Whittaker

A Few Faves From the Paramount Summer Classic Film Series

Immortal gems of the cinema help us define a classic

"...May 24, 7pm, Paramount. "I'd Vote for You." How Napoleon Dynamite exploded the rules of high school comedies..."

May 24, 2019 Screens Feature by The Screens Staff

A Nerd in King Vidiot's Court (or in Uncle Rico's Van)

Jon Gries will not pull a "Tiffany-mall-tour-type thing" and act above the crowd at the Alamo Drafthouse Downtown; he will enjoy Napoleon Dynamite and Joysticks along with you

"...multimillion-dollar-grossing business, à la his Uncle Rico turn in Napoleon Dynamite...."

May 4, 2007 Screens Feature by Carson Barker

Paint

Delightful throwback comedy with Owen Wilson as a Bob Ross-esque figure

"...at the height of his popularity following movies like Napoleon Dynamite and Nacho Libre – and it would still..."

April 7, 2023 Movie Review by Matthew Monagle

TV Eye: Front and Center

Eyeballing what NBC and Fox are serving up in the the fall

"...other animated series will join Fox: Allen Gregory and Napoleon Dynamite. Jonah Hill (Get Him to the Greek) voices..."

May 20, 2011 Screens Column by Belinda Acosta

The Movies That Matter

An interview with Killer Films producer Christine Vachon

"...are the ones that don't have stars – like Napoleon Dynamite or The Blair Witch Project. Usually, an independent..."

March 11, 2005 Screens Feature by Marjorie Baumgarten

Wizard World Austin 2017

The traveling comic con materializes here again Nov. 17-19

"...a Mighty Morphin Power Ranger, Yondu, Lt. Uhura, and Napoleon Dynamite...."

Nov. 17, 2017 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

Masterminds

Heist comedy stars Zach Galifianakis, Owen Wilson, and Kristin Wiig

"...for non sequitur nonsense in the 2004 cult film Napoleon Dynamite, but he’s floundered since then, unable to integrate..."

Oct. 7, 2016 Movie Review by Steve Davis

The Kings of Summer

This Sundance favorite is a perfect yet offbeat summer movie about teens who ditch their families and try to live like men in a ground-level treehouse in the woods.

"...Summer is unique: Stand by Me by way of Napoleon Dynamite. It nails the jumbled emotions these boys (not..."

June 7, 2013 Movie Review by Steve Davis

Deep in the Heart

The life story of Richard Wallrath, a former alcoholic who now funds scholarships for 4-H and FFA students, is told in this inspirational biopic.

"...probably forever be best known as Uncle Rico from Napoleon Dynamite. Gries is one of those greatly underappreciated actors,..."

Feb. 17, 2012 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

Best Worst Movie

Premiering in Austin, this documentary is about the purportedly "best worst movie" ever made, Troll 2, and its enthusiastic fans.

"...there something in the water there that links up Napoleon Dynamite and Planet of the Apes with Troll 2?..."

April 23, 2010 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

Mystery Team

The Mystery Team is a crime-solving trio of clueless high school seniors, brought to us by the five-person troupe called Derrick Comedy.

"...looking like the bastard child of Harry Potter and Napoleon Dynamite, leaves behind the Little League expletives of “Chinese..."

Aug. 28, 2009 Movie Review by Kimberley Jones

Blades of Glory

This ice-skating comedy demonstrates that just because Will Ferrell is game for anything that might draw a laugh, it doesn't mean he should follow through with every idea that comes his way.

"...slugfest between Michaels and his chief rival, Jimmy MacElroy (Napoleon Dynamite's Heder), gets the two banned from competitive ice..."

March 30, 2007 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

Just Like Heaven

This romantic comedy about a winsome, charming ghost and the man who loves her sidesteps abundant potential clichés through sheer dint of the acting skills on display.

"...exuberantly winning Donal Logue (The Tao of Steve) and Napoleon Dynamite’s Jon Heder, who mumbles his way through a..."

Sept. 16, 2005 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

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