NAPOLEON DYNAMITE
Starring (Voices): Jon Heder, Aaron Ruell, Efren Ramirez, Tina Majorino, Sandy Martin, Jon Gries, Diedrich Bader, Haylie Duff
Created by Jared Hess and Jerusha Hess
Written by Jared Hess and Jerusha Hess, Directed by Dwayne Carey-Hill
Napoleon Dynamite is a new cartoon on FOX based on the 2004 cult hit movie of the same name. The series picks up basically alongside the movie where dorky and weird teenager Napoleon Dynamite interacts with his friends and family in rural Idaho. Nearly all the characters (and actors) are back for this updated version.
THE GOOD: Well the movie was a very funny surprise back in 2004. I have fond memories of watching that movie often during my senior year of high school - everyone loved it then. If you haven't quite let go from the movie, I guess this would work to extend interest for the diehard fans. It's a plus that they got the original voices back because characters like Napoleon, Kip, and Pedro had such iconic voices. It already doesn't quite work but if they didn't have those voices, it would work less.
THE BAD: There's two major problems with this show. First of all, it's not 2005 anymore. Sure, everybody loved the movie then but most people have long since moved on from this movie. It feels seven years too late to be making this show and now people don't care anymore. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, I'm not sure this show would have worked even if it had been made in 2005. What made the film so memorable was its random oddness - the lines and characters became so memorable because it wasn't quite like anything else. A show wears off the novelty. Nothing in the pilot episode was quite as funny or well-delivered as the movie. Also, adding in cartoon elements (knocking down a goal post, flying through the air, etc) makes it less believable whereas the movie was so deadpan real, you'd believe that this sort of life existed in rural Idaho. Nothing really works here.
BOTTOM LINE: Napoleon Dynamite as a cartoon isn't the worst idea ever but it's years too late and not well executed. It's unlikely that fans of the movie care enough anymore or would be satisfied enough from the product to make this FOX's next animated hit. I'll stick with the movie when I catch it on TV, that brings back good memories and this show doesn't.
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