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# Nerdy ‘Napoleon’ lacks clarity, focus
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/nerdy-napoleon-lacks-clarity-focus/
- Published: 2004-06-11T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T04:31:57.000Z
- Author: Dan Dunn
- Tags: Education, Santa Monica, #archive-import

Tyro writer-director Jared Hess’ oddball character study about a high school nerd in small-town Idaho is derivative of the work done by Todd Solondz (“Welcome to the Dollhouse”) and Wes Anderson (“Rushmore,” “The Royal Tenenbaums”). It certainly boasts enough humdingers to qualify as a winner in what has thus far been a humdrum year for comedies. But “Napoleon Dynamite,” like its eponymous protagonist is idiosyncratic, sometimes leads you to the point of distraction. A lack of clear-cut narrative progressions induces stasis from time to time, and because the laughs come almost entirely at the expense of several inveterate dweebs, it all feels strangely masochistic.

Played with inspired uncool by newcomer Jon Heder, Napoleon Dynamite — a one-time pseudonym of Elvis Costello’s — is the geekiest cat at school in dead-end Preston, Idaho. When he’s not getting bullied by jocks and harassed by his van-dwelling Uncle Rico (Jon Gries), Napoleon occupies himself playing tetherball and practicing ’80s hip-hop dance moves. Making his acting debut, Aaron Ruell is a hoot as Napoleon’s brother, Kip, a wispy 32-year-old who spends his days searching for a soulmate in Internet chat rooms — constituting the film’s only discernible sto-ryline. Kip eventually finds love online with LaFawnduh (Shondrella Avery), and when she turns up in Preston, hilarity arrives with her. Tina Majorino also shines as the diffident neighbor who captures Napoleon’s heart. (Not yet rated. Running time: 86 minutes)

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 11, 2004.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/061104.pdf?ref=smdp.com)