Napoleon Dynamite Side Pony Review

Napoleon Dynamite first hit theaters in 2004 as an impossible film to take seriously, yet still be entertaining. Starring Jon Heder as an unabashedly dorky teenager named Napoleon Dynamite – wearing red Poindexter wigs, sketching mythical creatures and eating his own poop – it quickly became one of the funniest comedies ever. But its success lay not solely with its offbeat characters but in how it explored growing up through fantasy; when Pedro wears a wig without ever being bullied; Kip’s Internet date actually turns out real; or when big girl class president steals dance partner from him without even realizing it!

The film offers numerous humorous riffs on the standard fare of teen movies without succumbing to an imitation. Every shot offers something quirky or unexpectedly humorous – from Napoleon’s awkward smile after winning his dance contest victory, to Pedro and Deb exchanging awkward glances that suggest they might have once been romantic partners in another lifetime.

Heder leads an outstanding cast. Aaron Ruell shines as Kip, the self-declared “biggest nerd in school.” Efren Ramirez and Tina Majorino provide comic relief as Pedro (who runs for class president despite being shyest guy on campus) and her Girl Crush Deb respectively.

There’s an impressive lack of pretension about everything here; characters don’t try to look sophisticated; they just want to have fun. The movie features catchy musical compositions, while its offbeat take on reaching Napoleon’s moment of truth adds further dimension.

Napoleon Dynamite stands out as an entertaining watch because it embraces its own quirky nature with pride, knowing full well it’s comedy rather than trying to hide behind pretense. That is precisely why watching it can be such a blast! “Troubleshooter” was an absolute pleasure to watch – you could tell both its creators and audiences were laughing their heads off while making it. For an hour or so it felt like 2004 all over again in the PAC! People wore “Vote for Pedro” t-shirts and rocked side ponytails, and the line to meet the actors extended beyond the stage. Even director Jared Hess seemed pleased to see people enjoy themselves so much; just a few moments with Napoleon, Pedro and Kip were enough to bring back memories of an unexpectedly timeless classic!