NAPOLEON DYNAMITE

Year: 2004
USA: Fox Searchlight
UK: UIP (UK)
Cast: Jon Heder, Jon Gries, Aaron Ruell, Efren Ramirez, Tina Majorino, Diedrich Bader, Haylie Duff, Ellen Dubin, Emily Kennard, Sandy Martin, Shondrella Avery, Carmen Brady, Tom Adams, J C Cunningham, Pat Donahue, Bracken Johnson, Brian Petersen, James Smooth, Trevor Snarr, Brett Taylor
Director: Jared Hess
Country: USA
UK: 95 mins
USA Rated: PG for thematic elements and language
UK Certificate: PG contains mild language
USA Release: 23 July 2004
USA Release Date: 11 June 2004 (Limited Release)
UK Release Date: 26 December 2004
UK Release Date: 10 December 2004 (Limited Release - wider)
UK Release Date: 3 December 2004 (Limited Release - London)

Synopsis

PRESTON HIGH YEARBOOK

Sweet!! What word could possibly better sum up our experience this year at Preston High? Actually, I never even thought we'd make it through the Student Body Elections, but here we are. And to celebrate what we've all learned this year, for this yearbook we've decided to follow one of Preston's least popular students.

So meet Napoleon Dynamite, whom you might have seen muttering "Go-osh" and "Idiot" in the halls. You probably recognize his tight red afro, his moon-boots and hammer-pants and his mean game of one-man tether ball. But there's far more to Napoleon than the laid-back nerd you've watched lecture about Loch Ness and get slammed into lockers. Because somehow this oddball managed to turn our school upside down and make the wildest dreams of his friends come true.

Is Napoleon the ultimate outcast, or the reluctant hero of a kickback generation? Either way, there's definitely something about the guy that captures the comedy, tragedy, disorientation - and yes, sweetness - of trying to make it through life. Or at least high school. Just remember to keep loving summer all year round.

Summer

Your Yearbook Editor

p.s. A runaway comedy hit at the Sundance Film Festival and named Best Feature Film at the US Comedy Arts Festival, NAPOLEON DYNAMITE marks the feature film debut of an original new voice, director Jared Hess, who himself grew up in Preston, Idaho and left his studies at Brigham Young University to make the film. NAPOLEON DYNAMITE is written by Jared and his wife, Jerusha Hess, and produced by Jeremy Coon, Chris Wyatt and Sean C Covel.
Napoleon Dynamite isn't like anyone else in his hometown of Preston, Idaho. In fact he is not like anyone you've ever known. A peculiar looking boy who lives with his quad-bike riding grandmother, 31 year-old brother Kip and his ultra-vain Uncle Rico. The family is all too caught-up in their own lives to give Napoleon the time of day and left to his own devices, he tries to impress girls at his high-school by helping his best-friend Pedro, become student-body president.

The DVD special features include a commentary by the director/co-writer Jared Hess, the producer, Jeremy Coon and actor Jon Heder who plays Napoleon himself. In addition, there is 'Peluca' - an original short film, "The Wedding of the Century", a 'making-of' featurette, deleted scenes and a stills gallery.

DVD EXTRAS

Commentary by Jared Hess, Jeremy Coon and Jon Heder
'Peluca', original short film
'The Wedding of the Century', making-of featurette
Deleted scenes
Stills gallery