(poll): Napoleon Dynamite (1 Viewer)

[Gadfly]

Napoleon Dynamite was just OK. Some laughs but a lot of things that were supposed to be funny and weren't.

Harold and Kumar go to White Castle is a great comedy. If you don't find funny the Neal Patrick Harris scenes and the early college interview scene and so many others, then you are dead inside.

 

[ODoyleRules]

I was playing golf today and said the quote "lookie, lookie" 2 or 3 times before I remembered it was from ND.

Both are really funny, but both seem unlikely to age well - they may not be that funny in 10 years

 

[Big_Russel]

Uncle Rico is a riot.

Very few things in film are funnier than Uncle Rico outside his van/home making videos of himself throwing a football.

"How much you wanna bet I can throw this here football over dem mountains??"The scene where he smacks ND in the face with the steak is also . Especially since he threw Kips steak instead of his own. They really need to make a Uncle Rico spin-off movie.

 

[cstu]

I was playing golf today and said the quote "lookie, lookie" 2 or 3 times before I remembered it was from ND. Both are really funny, but both seem unlikely to age well - they may not be that funny in 10 years

I disagree, if you show ND to someone who's never seen it 10 years from now they should still find it funny. It's a classic.

 

[cstu]

It's one of those movies you either get or you don't.

@ taking a pretentious tone over such an inconsequential movie.

I didn't mean to do that.Some people find it funny. Others don't. I do.

That's all I meant. I didn't mean I was superior to anyone. I don't know how you can judge my tone over a message board, anyway.

Not sure where Despyzer's comment comes from. The poll results pretty much back up your assertion. When half the people say it was "Hillarious-LOL funny" and the other half are at best "meh". That tells you something.

To claim that there is something "to get" about this movie is giving it far too much credit. The inference is that if you don't "get it," you must not understand it, which is incredibly pretentious. I think "Anchorman" is hysterical, but if you said you didn't think it was funny, I wouldn't resort to remarking that you just didn't get it. I'd just chalk it up to us having a different sense of humor.

Ok, then, because Anchorman had mostly awkard laughs while ND was one of the funniest movies I've ever seen.

 

[saintsfan]

It's one of those movies you either get or you don't.

@ taking a pretentious tone over such an inconsequential movie.

I didn't mean to do that.Some people find it funny. Others don't. I do.

That's all I meant. I didn't mean I was superior to anyone. I don't know how you can judge my tone over a message board, anyway.

Not sure where Despyzer's comment comes from. The poll results pretty much back up your assertion. When half the people say it was "Hillarious-LOL funny" and the other half are at best "meh". That tells you something.

To claim that there is something "to get" about this movie is giving it far too much credit. The inference is that if you don't "get it," you must not understand it, which is incredibly pretentious. I think "Anchorman" is hysterical, but if you said you didn't think it was funny, I wouldn't resort to remarking that you just didn't get it. I'd just chalk it up to us having a different sense of humor.

That's not what I meant, guy.Forget it.

 

[Baconator]

It's one of those movies you either get or you don't.

@ taking a pretentious tone over such an inconsequential movie.

I didn't mean to do that.Some people find it funny. Others don't. I do.

That's all I meant. I didn't mean I was superior to anyone. I don't know how you can judge my tone over a message board, anyway.

Not sure where Despyzer's comment comes from. The poll results pretty much back up your assertion. When half the people say it was "Hillarious-LOL funny" and the other half are at best "meh". That tells you something.

To claim that there is something "to get" about this movie is giving it far too much credit. The inference is that if you don't "get it," you must not understand it, which is incredibly pretentious. I think "Anchorman" is hysterical, but if you said you didn't think it was funny, I wouldn't resort to remarking that you just didn't get it. I'd just chalk it up to us having a different sense of humor.

I'm not sure you're understanding his use of the word "get". "Get" isn't just about understanding it -like "getting" Quantum Physics. It's also used in the context of appreciating the particular brand of humor / tone of the film/characters. I'm with others. I understood what they were trying to do. I understand that some loser dude hoarding tator tots and having them smashed by the cool kid is supposed to be funny. I just don't like it. I don't like watching awkward people do embarassing things - or get embarassed. Some people probably laughed their butts off at that scene. Not me. Certainly not that I didn't understand it, I just didn't find it funny, nor particularly clever.

Comments like Jayrods tend to show one's intellect & maturity. There's a whole 'nother world where people have other opinions than you Jayrod. The fact that you like something and others don't doesn't make them an "idiot". So grow up, mkay Jayrod??

 

[Otis]

Either you get it or you don't.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

I thought Harold & Kumar was funny but I don't think there was much extra you could pick up or appreciate from watching it multiple times.

I watched Napoleon Dynamite at least 10 times and picked up new things almost every time. Just a great, simple, funny movie.

 

[flapgreen]

I love both of them. "Escape from Guantanamo Bay" is funny too

 

[flapgreen]

Dude, what is the deal with Neil Patrick Harris? Why is he so horny?

Guy is hilarious in everything he does

 

[flapgreen]

It's one of those movies you either get or you don't.

@ taking a pretentious tone over such an inconsequential movie.

I didn't mean to do that.Some people find it funny. Others don't. I do.That's all I meant. I didn't mean I was superior to anyone. I don't know how you can judge my tone over a message board, anyway.

Don't worry about it. Despyzer doesn't get much of anything

 

[Raider Nation]

It's one of those movies you either get or you don't.

@ taking a pretentious tone over such an inconsequential movie.

I didn't mean to do that.Some people find it funny. Others don't. I do.That's all I meant. I didn't mean I was superior to anyone. I don't know how you can judge my tone over a message board, anyway.

Don't worry about it. Despyzer doesn't get much of anything

saintsfan will be relieved that he's finally been vindicated after 26 months.

 

[Major]

I love both of them. "Escape from Guantanamo Bay" is funny too

still @ the bottomless party

 

[flapgreen]

I love both of them. "Escape from Guantanamo Bay" is funny too

still @ the bottomless party

"You boys ready for your cockmeat sandwich?"

 

[cstu]

Allright, I watched this movie again a few weeks ago. Same reaction as the first time. But it was so unfunny the first time and so many people swear by this movie, I forced myself to watch it again. (Plus, I was bored outta my skull). Still Unfunny. The only scene that made me LOL was (of course) ND on the bike ramp. But that's a cheap laugh.And, I place Harold and Kumar in that same category. Many people apparently found this funny, I did not. However, I have a suspicion; I call it the "Macy Gray Effect". You may know it as "The Emperor's New Clothes Syndrome". I'm convinced that "they" (whoever "they" are in Hwood/Nyork) occasionally randomly choose something that sucks and elevate it just to prove that "they" are so cool they can convince a bunch of other wanna-be hipsters to eat dogcrap and like it. But, I'm open-minded. I'm really interested in your opinions of these movies. - Especially curious to see how the 3rd question in the poll comes out.

I saw an early screening about a month before it was released and thought it was one of the funniest movies I had seen in a very long time. I knew absolutely nothing about it going in as I assume most of the audience I was with, yet everyone in the theatre seemed to love it. I think a lot of people have a negative view of the movie because of all the hype that happened when it got hugely popular and also a different kind of humor that not everyone is into. It's still a top 20 all time comedy for me though.

 

[FUBAR]

I thought Harold & Kumar was funny but I don't think there was much extra you could pick up or appreciate from watching it multiple times.I watched Napoleon Dynamite at least 10 times and picked up new things almost every time. Just a great, simple, funny movie.

I'm sure that's the case but I can't imagine watching either movie multiple times. ND was alright, not unlike decent SNL skits which don't seem funny at first but stick with you later.

 

[dharmapunk]

ND was gut-busting hilarious.

H/K was a mediocre comedy in the vein of many subpar comedies out there (The Hangover is another example) - a really bad plot populated by stereotypical characters that somehow has a couple really funny spots to make it 'not awful.'

I laughed. But I mostly wanted my 2 hours back.

 

[GloryDaze]

Not funny.

 

[Raider Nation]

E!

 

[Raider Nation]

"Back in '82, I used to be able to throw a pigskin a quarter-mile."

"You serious?"

"I'm DEAD serious."

 

[flapgreen]

 

[Binky The Doormat]

Watched ND tonight and it was even funnier than I remembered. Probably have watched it 5-6 times, but not for several years.

 

[jdoggydogg]

Allright, I watched this movie again a few weeks ago. Same reaction as the first time. But it was so unfunny the first time and so many people swear by this movie.

I've decided that Napoleon Dynamite stinks.

Jared Hess fancies himself a quirkier Wes Anderson. He stocks his movies with really bizarre-looking actors as if that's supposed to manufacture hipness. And like a dull version of David Mamet, Hess' actors all speak and emote with the same deadpan style. Gentlemen Broncos, one of the director's follow up efforts, pushes the *weird* element even further to the point of nausea. You aren't clever, Jared, and Dynamite is anything but.

 

[donkshow]

Tina you fat lard, come get some dinner.

 

[KarmaPolice]

I think that is putting way to much thought into it, dogg. I hated the movie the first time I watched it - couldn't even get through 30 mins of it. Just like some horror movies or action movies that I would put in the "so bad it's good/funny" category, Napoleon Dynamite is placed firmly there. So stupid that it starts to become funny. That, and I think a lot of the funnier stuff for me in all the stupid looks/comments that are going on the background. I don't think it's trying to achieve any level of art or anything. It is just there, and it's dumb.

I think another thing that worked against it is just how fast it entered the public consciousness. Couldn't turn around without somebody talking like Napoleon for a bit, and if you didn't like the movie, that just stoked the fires of hatred even more.

 

[Jayrok]

"Back in '82, I used to be able to throw a pigskin a quarter-mile."

"You serious?"

"I'm DEAD serious."

How much you wanna make a bet I can throw a football over them mountains?

 

[TenTimes]

Uncle Rico: Kip, I reckon... you know a lot about... cyberspace? You ever come across anything... like time travel?

Kip: Easy, I've already looked into it for myself.

Uncle Rico: Right on... right on.

 

[Pipes]

Kind of like Seinfeld where the side characters are funny and the main character is pretty annoying.

 

[pollardsvision]

I thought Harold & Kumar was funny but I don't think there was much extra you could pick up or appreciate from watching it multiple times. I watched Napoleon Dynamite at least 10 times and picked up new things almost every time. Just a great, simple, funny movie.

I'm sure that's the case but I can't imagine watching either movie multiple times. ND was alright, not unlike decent SNL skits which don't seem funny at first but stick with you later.

I'm the opposite of Rud on this one. I loved ND upon first viewing, but really don't enjoy subsequent viewings as much. It's kind of depressing and I have to be in the right mood. Without Uncle Rico, I'm not sure I'd be able to sit through it at all.

It took me a long time to finally watch H&K because I assume'd be horrible, but I really enjoy multiple viewings of them. If I were to see ND or a H&K movie on at the same time, I'd pick the H&K movie more often.

 

[Tom in Albany]

awesome movie

 

[Thorn]

ND: great comedy, though it took two views to appreciate.

HK: meh

 

[Binky The Doormat]

Uncle Rico: Kip, I reckon... you know a lot about... cyberspace? You ever come across anything... like time travel?

Kip: Easy, I've already looked into it for myself.

Uncle Rico: Right on... right on.

Kip rules. But no way he gets the beautiful LaFawduh in real life.

 

[TenTimes]

Uncle Rico: Kip, I reckon... you know a lot about... cyberspace? You ever come across anything... like time travel?

Kip: Easy, I've already looked into it for myself.

Uncle Rico: Right on... right on.

Kip rules. But no way he gets the beautiful LaFawduh in real life.

Don't be jealous that Kip has been chatting online with babes all day.

Man, just reading the list of ND quotes has me rolling. Good times.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0374900/quotes

 

[jdoggydogg]

I think that is putting way to much thought into it, dogg. I hated the movie the first time I watched it - couldn't even get through 30 mins of it. Just like some horror movies or action movies that I would put in the "so bad it's good/funny" category, Napoleon Dynamite is placed firmly there. So stupid that it starts to become funny. That, and I think a lot of the funnier stuff for me in all the stupid looks/comments that are going on the background. I don't think it's trying to achieve any level of art or anything. It is just there, and it's dumb.

I think another thing that worked against it is just how fast it entered the public consciousness. Couldn't turn around without somebody talking like Napoleon for a bit, and if you didn't like the movie, that just stoked the fires of hatred even more.

Let's go with your characterization and view it as a dumb comedy. It didn't make me laugh.

 

[17seconds]

I give Napoleon Dynamite a lot of credit for being good enough to be considered one of the top comedies of the last 10 years and it is a very light PG, almost G rated.

 

[Jefvan]

Your Moms in College

 

[MattFancy]

Your Moms in College

Nope. It's, "Your mom goes to college".

I still use that line in day to day insults.

 

[Raider Nation]

I think that is putting way to much thought into it, dogg. I hated the movie the first time I watched it - couldn't even get through 30 mins of it. Just like some horror movies or action movies that I would put in the "so bad it's good/funny" category, Napoleon Dynamite is placed firmly there. So stupid that it starts to become funny. That, and I think a lot of the funnier stuff for me in all the stupid looks/comments that are going on the background. I don't think it's trying to achieve any level of art or anything. It is just there, and it's dumb.

I think another thing that worked against it is just how fast it entered the public consciousness. Couldn't turn around without somebody talking like Napoleon for a bit, and if you didn't like the movie, that just stoked the fires of hatred even more.

Let's go with your characterization and view it as a dumb comedy. It didn't make me laugh.

I used to be friends with you.

We're not splitting the atom here -- in terms of turn-your-brain-off comedy, it doesn't get much better than this.

Even the simple crap, like the ridiculous way Napoleon chugs Gatorade in the kitchen.

 

[TenTimes]

I think that is putting way to much thought into it, dogg. I hated the movie the first time I watched it - couldn't even get through 30 mins of it. Just like some horror movies or action movies that I would put in the "so bad it's good/funny" category, Napoleon Dynamite is placed firmly there. So stupid that it starts to become funny. That, and I think a lot of the funnier stuff for me in all the stupid looks/comments that are going on the background. I don't think it's trying to achieve any level of art or anything. It is just there, and it's dumb.

I think another thing that worked against it is just how fast it entered the public consciousness. Couldn't turn around without somebody talking like Napoleon for a bit, and if you didn't like the movie, that just stoked the fires of hatred even more.

Let's go with your characterization and view it as a dumb comedy. It didn't make me laugh.

I used to be friends with you.

We're not splitting the atom here -- in terms of turn-your-brain-off comedy, it doesn't get much better than this.

Even the simple crap, like the ridiculous way Napoleon chugs Gatorade in the kitchen.

^^ gets it

 

[jdoggydogg]

I think that is putting way to much thought into it, dogg. I hated the movie the first time I watched it - couldn't even get through 30 mins of it. Just like some horror movies or action movies that I would put in the "so bad it's good/funny" category, Napoleon Dynamite is placed firmly there. So stupid that it starts to become funny. That, and I think a lot of the funnier stuff for me in all the stupid looks/comments that are going on the background. I don't think it's trying to achieve any level of art or anything. It is just there, and it's dumb.

I think another thing that worked against it is just how fast it entered the public consciousness. Couldn't turn around without somebody talking like Napoleon for a bit, and if you didn't like the movie, that just stoked the fires of hatred even more.

Let's go with your characterization and view it as a dumb comedy. It didn't make me laugh.

I used to be friends with you.

We're not splitting the atom here -- in terms of turn-your-brain-off comedy, it doesn't get much better than this.

Even the simple crap, like the ridiculous way Napoleon chugs Gatorade in the kitchen.

Can't we still be friends? I'll buy beers...

 

[Emerson Biggens]

I think that is putting way to much thought into it, dogg. I hated the movie the first time I watched it - couldn't even get through 30 mins of it. Just like some horror movies or action movies that I would put in the "so bad it's good/funny" category, Napoleon Dynamite is placed firmly there. So stupid that it starts to become funny. That, and I think a lot of the funnier stuff for me in all the stupid looks/comments that are going on the background. I don't think it's trying to achieve any level of art or anything. It is just there, and it's dumb.

I think another thing that worked against it is just how fast it entered the public consciousness. Couldn't turn around without somebody talking like Napoleon for a bit, and if you didn't like the movie, that just stoked the fires of hatred even more.

Let's go with your characterization and view it as a dumb comedy. It didn't make me laugh.

I used to be friends with you.

We're not splitting the atom here -- in terms of turn-your-brain-off comedy, it doesn't get much better than this.

Even the simple crap, like the ridiculous way Napoleon chugs Gatorade in the kitchen.

^^ gets it

Yep! So much funny

 

[Fat Nick]

Allright, I watched this movie again a few weeks ago. Same reaction as the first time. But it was so unfunny the first time and so many people swear by this movie, I forced myself to watch it again. (Plus, I was bored outta my skull). Still Unfunny. The only scene that made me LOL was (of course) ND on the bike ramp. But that's a cheap laugh.

And, I place Harold and Kumar in that same category. Many people apparently found this funny, I did not.

However, I have a suspicion; I call it the "Macy Gray Effect". You may know it as "The Emperor's New Clothes Syndrome". I'm convinced that "they" (whoever "they" are in Hwood/Nyork) occasionally randomly choose something that sucks and elevate it just to prove that "they" are so cool they can convince a bunch of other wanna-be hipsters to eat dogcrap and like it.

But, I'm open-minded. I'm really interested in your opinions of these movies. - Especially curious to see how the 3rd question in the poll comes out.

I feel this way about nearly every Quentin Tarantino movie...

 

[KarmaPolice]

I think that is putting way to much thought into it, dogg. I hated the movie the first time I watched it - couldn't even get through 30 mins of it. Just like some horror movies or action movies that I would put in the "so bad it's good/funny" category, Napoleon Dynamite is placed firmly there. So stupid that it starts to become funny. That, and I think a lot of the funnier stuff for me in all the stupid looks/comments that are going on the background. I don't think it's trying to achieve any level of art or anything. It is just there, and it's dumb.

I think another thing that worked against it is just how fast it entered the public consciousness. Couldn't turn around without somebody talking like Napoleon for a bit, and if you didn't like the movie, that just stoked the fires of hatred even more.

Let's go with your characterization and view it as a dumb comedy. It didn't make me laugh.

Have you seen it multiple times and/or while high?

 

[Stinger Ray]

I think that is putting way to much thought into it, dogg. I hated the movie the first time I watched it - couldn't even get through 30 mins of it. Just like some horror movies or action movies that I would put in the "so bad it's good/funny" category, Napoleon Dynamite is placed firmly there. So stupid that it starts to become funny. That, and I think a lot of the funnier stuff for me in all the stupid looks/comments that are going on the background. I don't think it's trying to achieve any level of art or anything. It is just there, and it's dumb.

I think another thing that worked against it is just how fast it entered the public consciousness. Couldn't turn around without somebody talking like Napoleon for a bit, and if you didn't like the movie, that just stoked the fires of hatred even more.

Let's go with your characterization and view it as a dumb comedy. It didn't make me laugh.

I used to be friends with you.

We're not splitting the atom here -- in terms of turn-your-brain-off comedy, it doesn't get much better than this.

Even the simple crap, like the ridiculous way Napoleon chugs Gatorade in the kitchen.

Exactly!

 

[jdoggydogg]

I think that is putting way to much thought into it, dogg. I hated the movie the first time I watched it - couldn't even get through 30 mins of it. Just like some horror movies or action movies that I would put in the "so bad it's good/funny" category, Napoleon Dynamite is placed firmly there. So stupid that it starts to become funny. That, and I think a lot of the funnier stuff for me in all the stupid looks/comments that are going on the background. I don't think it's trying to achieve any level of art or anything. It is just there, and it's dumb.

I think another thing that worked against it is just how fast it entered the public consciousness. Couldn't turn around without somebody talking like Napoleon for a bit, and if you didn't like the movie, that just stoked the fires of hatred even more.

Let's go with your characterization and view it as a dumb comedy. It didn't make me laugh.

Have you seen it multiple times and/or while high?

High would have helped.

 

[cstu]

Allright, I watched this movie again a few weeks ago. Same reaction as the first time. But it was so unfunny the first time and so many people swear by this movie.

I've decided that Napoleon Dynamite stinks.

Jared Hess fancies himself a quirkier Wes Anderson. He stocks his movies with really bizarre-looking actors as if that's supposed to manufacture hipness. And like a dull version of David Mamet, Hess' actors all speak and emote with the same deadpan style. Gentlemen Broncos, one of the director's follow up efforts, pushes the *weird* element even further to the point of nausea. You aren't clever, Jared, and Dynamite is anything but.

I'm sorry to hear that, dogg. As I posted above, I had never heard of it because I saw a screening before it opened and everyone in the theater was

So much random humor mixed in with unexpected heart that it's one of the best comedies of all-time.

 

[jdoggydogg]

Allright, I watched this movie again a few weeks ago. Same reaction as the first time. But it was so unfunny the first time and so many people swear by this movie.

I've decided that Napoleon Dynamite stinks.

Jared Hess fancies himself a quirkier Wes Anderson. He stocks his movies with really bizarre-looking actors as if that's supposed to manufacture hipness. And like a dull version of David Mamet, Hess' actors all speak and emote with the same deadpan style. Gentlemen Broncos, one of the director's follow up efforts, pushes the *weird* element even further to the point of nausea. You aren't clever, Jared, and Dynamite is anything but.

I'm sorry to hear that, dogg. As I posted above, I had never heard of it because I saw a screening before it opened and everyone in the theater was

So much random humor mixed in with unexpected heart that it's one of the best comedies of all-time.

Have you seen it since you saw it in the theater? I remember seeing There's Something About Mary in the theater and thinking it was hilarious. But it wasn't nearly as funny the second time on DVD.

 

[cstu]

Allright, I watched this movie again a few weeks ago. Same reaction as the first time. But it was so unfunny the first time and so many people swear by this movie.

I've decided that Napoleon Dynamite stinks.

Jared Hess fancies himself a quirkier Wes Anderson. He stocks his movies with really bizarre-looking actors as if that's supposed to manufacture hipness. And like a dull version of David Mamet, Hess' actors all speak and emote with the same deadpan style. Gentlemen Broncos, one of the director's follow up efforts, pushes the *weird* element even further to the point of nausea. You aren't clever, Jared, and Dynamite is anything but.

I'm sorry to hear that, dogg. As I posted above, I had never heard of it because I saw a screening before it opened and everyone in the theater was

So much random humor mixed in with unexpected heart that it's one of the best comedies of all-time.

Have you seen it since you saw it in the theater? I remember seeing There's Something About Mary in the theater and thinking it was hilarious. But it wasn't nearly as funny the second time on DVD.

I might have seen it once right after it came on DVD.

Alright, I'll watch it again and see if it holds up.

 

[TenTimes]

I didn't laugh at ND the first time I watched it. Now one of my favorites.