Heder's Dynamite is the loser you never talked to at school. He's the nerdy kid scribbling unicorn drawings in his notebook while pretending to be a martial arts expert. You've never known a kid like Napoleon Dynamite, but you've certainly seen him playing tetherball by himself or stuffing tater tots into his pocket.
Napoleon's bizarre gait, strange eating habits and lack of social skills have made him a total outcast at his small Idaho school. Things don't look much brighter for Napoleon at home.
Napoleon's grandmother is injured from an extreme sports accident, and his mustache-sporting Uncle Rico (Jon Greis) has taken over as head of the household. Uncle Rico lives perpetually in 1982, the year during which he was the back-up quarterback on a state runner-up football team. He spends his days bitterly recalling what could have been and selling new-age Tupperware from the confines of a well-traveled van. Napoleon and Uncle Rico clash for power, prompting Napoleon's world to shift, as his time at school is for the first time more enjoyable than his time at home.
Added to the list of Napoleon's woes is his 31-year-old deadbeat brother, Kip, who is unemployed and spends his days in Internet chat rooms, despite claims that he is ready to begin a career in cage fighting. Kip and Uncle Rico embark in on a business venture, leaving Napoleon to feed the family llama and fume loudly to himself.
Life for Napoleon is depressing-that is, until the new kid Pedro, enters his life. Pedro, played with straight-faced indifference by Efren Ramirez, befriends the awkward Napoleon, just as things are looking down for Napoleon at home. He certainly spices things up for Napoleon.
As the movie meanders toward a conclusion, Napoleon convinces Pedro to run for class president, Kip begins to get serious with his Internet girlfriend, LaFawnduh, and an innocent attraction blossoms between Napoleon and a fellow outcast, Deb (Tina Majorino).
While the plot may not sound compelling, the characters have more than enough vigor and wit to carry the movie along at a brisk and often hilarious pace. What would be minuses in most movies, like scenes that seem out of place and the boom mike sometimes peeking into the top frame, only add charm to this no-budget oddfest. Jared and Jerusha Hess's sharp writing allow them to completely eschew swear words (so don't let the PG rating fool you) and Jared Hess's direction is crisp and inspired. I won't ruin the many oddball moments and hilarious one-liners that make this movie truly memorable, but I will say that Napoleon Dynamite provides the unique movie experience that bored viewers everywhere have been waiting for. Oh, and make sure to stick around after the final credits for a bonus scene.