Does Napoleon Dynamite have a lasting impact? Heck yes, it does!
When a film as revolutionary and unexpected as Jared Hess’s Napoleon Dynamite emerges from the deep recesses of a 24-year-old’s brain, it does not go unnoticed. In fact, even 16 years later, it remains one of the most quotable cult classics to have ever graced our screens. It is a unique film that acts as a “slice of life” picture of the extremely eccentric residents of a rural town in Idaho. Even with no overt plot, conflict, stakes, or goals, this film has captured the hearts and attention of nearly everyone who views it. And if it hasn’t captured yours, all I have to say is, “Your mom goes to college!”
This wonderful film, written by Jared Hess and his wife Jerusha Hess, makes characters and their individual internal conflicts its primary focus. Napoleon deals with his overbearing Uncle Rico and learns how to make friends; Pedro moves to the school and runs for class president; Deb runs her own photography business; Kip navigates an online, interracial relationship and body insecurity; Uncle Rico struggles with being “stuck in ‘82” and mourning a lost football career; Grandma recovers from breaking her coccyx after going to the dunes; and Tina the llama struggles with eating schedules. Overall, these experiences loosely intertwine to create a picture of the people of this small town. But the film is unique in that there is not an expressly apparent plot. The stakes are not very high (there is no impending doom that threatens these characters if they don’t overcome their respective conflicts), and there really is no deadline for any of them to overcome their conflicts. Somehow, by the end of the film, everyone seems to have ended up exactly where they need to be, having overcome their conflicts without us even really realizing it. When it does not seem like we should be satisfied by this film, we somehow still are, having born witness to countless one-liners and scenes of physical comedy along the way.
Visually and stylistically, this film is also super interesting. From the color pallet and set design, to the costume design and artwork, Hess was able to create a world that is authentically itself. It was filmed at Hess’s real high school, in real local houses, and with real people that Hess already knew before filming. Even the artwork drawn by Napoleon was drawn by his actor, Jon Heder. It is apparent that the film was made on only a $400,000 budget (which almost seems high based on its aesthetic). However, having this low of a budget really worked in its favor — especially considering that it had grossed over $46.1 million by the end of its theatrical run.
So what is the lasting impact of Napoleon Dynamite in 2020?
Recently, I got the once in a lifetime experience of attending a live screening of the film followed by a Q&A session with the film’s stars, Jon Heder (Napoleon) and Efren Ramirez (Pedro). And what a glorious evening it was, complete with tater-tots and all! I even had the life-changing pleasure of witnessing Jon Heder dance the first few steps of the famous dance set to Jamiroquai’s “Canned Heat,” as well as seeing Efren Ramirez delivering a version of his Pedro election speech in character. I honestly would’ve paid just to witness those two things with my own eyes.
Both actors provided loads of insight into what filming was like and how their lives have been impacted by playing such iconic characters. The thing I found to be the most insightful about this opportunity to get inside information about the making of the film is how much it impacted Efren Ramirez from a cultural perspective. He told us that at the time he auditioned for Napoleon Dynamite, he also had an audition for The Alamo (2004). He was subsequently cast in both films, but was conflicted about which role to take. Upon talking to his father — a Latino-American immigrant — Efren was advised that he should “follow his heart.” Since these words rang true with the sentiments expressed to Pedro by Napoleon throughout the script, Efren chose to step into Pedro’s cowboy boots and assume the role. He also remarked that since there are over 500 Mexicans in The Alamo and only one featured Mexican in Napoleon Dynamite, the choice to serve as a standout, Mexican-American character that wins his high school presidential election was an easy one to make.
Hearing stories like this make you take stock of this film’s diversity. While there may be a few lines or stereotypical portrayals in the film that may have not seemed so controversial in 2004, the overall diversity of the film shines through. A marginalized nerd who finds acceptance (Napoleon); a strong, independent woman who likes herself the way she is (Deb); interracial relationships (Kip and Lafawnduh); a free-spirited, dune-buggy-riding grandma; and a Mexican American high school class president who’ll make all of your wildest dreams come true (Pedro). Other than the quotable lines, these are the things you remember about the film — which serves as a testament to its timelessness and importance as a cult film.
