Napoleon Dynamite

Question: Why does Napoleon, who appears to be a junior or senior in high school, ride the bus with a bunch of little kids?

Answer: Because it is such a small town that the school system can not afford buses for grade level so they have to share them, plus it has comedic value as well.

pross79

Small town schools are usually K-12. The other older "cooler" students drive to school or get ride with their friends.

Chosen answer: She has no cellphone or home phone.

Toolio

Answer: And / or does not wish to be eavesdropped on if she has a home phone?

dizzyd

Question: Why do Napoleon and Kip live with their grandmother, what exactly happened to their parents?

VnB18

Chosen answer: This is never explained or referenced.

Answer: This question has been answered and it takes place in the school year of 2004-2005 as it states on Napolean's school ID in the beginning credits.

Toolio

Question: What was Napoleon putting in his mouth in the restroom during the dance? It looks a chewing tobacco pouch that he takes it from, but since he swallows it seconds later, this seems implausible.

Answer: On the DVD commentary, they say it's Big League Chew, that shredded bubble gum that comes in a pouch.

Krista

Question: What is the point/moral of this film. To me it was just a random funny movie but I was wondering if there was a point.

Answer: The movie's point is that no matter who you are, you can still be a winner. The movie was inspired by the short film "Peluca" that was also made by Jared Hess in 2003.

Question: I know this film is supposed to be set in 2004-2005, but does anyone know why the clothes and some of the music seems to be quite old (like 20-30 years ago)?

Answer: The reason the styles and such are so out of date is to signify that the town where "Napoleon Dynamite" takes place is a very small town that is out of touch with current fads and trends. The aged styles also serve to create a sense of nostalgia to the majority of the viewing audience.

Sarah Van Winkle

Napoleon dynamite is set in 2004 but, like some other commenters have said, many of the town's inhabitants are way behind the times, Uncle Rico living in 1982 and proudly proclaiming it, Deb living in the early 1980s with her side ponytail, and the faculty at the school being with a lot of the town's backwardness by playing 1984 songs "Forever young" and "Time after time" at the school dance. However, some of the other townspeople are much more updated with their styles such as Summer and her friends dressing and acting much more up to date, because they're the cool kids who have been able to keep up with America's more modern trends than a lot of the town's being stuck in the past. Also, Summer and her friends may've also travelled like to Los Angeles or some other bigger city more than the others and have been more exposed to the modern world. And because they're the cool kids, they've cared more about that. Alot of the rest of the town, Rico, Deb, school faculty, Napoleon's family, etc., they've either not learned or not cared about getting modernized, probably some of both.

Answer: Shopping for Napoleon's "tuxedo" at a thrift store would explain the old clothes. As far as the music goes I think we all have listened to music from the 80'-90's at one point.

Question: Does anybody know what music the Mexicans are playing in their car? I like it.

Answer: It is a cut/mix of "So Ruff, So Tuff" by Roger Troutman (lead singer of Zapp). I think this is a extended mix of it. It contains the beginning of Zapp's biggest hit "More Bounce to the Ounce" which was off their first self-titled album "Zapp" (1980). This has been used and sampled in Hip Hop songs for over 20 years. Roger Troutman put out his first solo album the next year in 1981 (Many Facets of Roger). This contained the single "So Ruff, So Tuff".

Luna Negra

Question: After Napoleon realizes Uncle Rico told Deb about the breast enhancer stuff, what type of fruit does Napoleon throw at Rico's van?

Answer: Palmelo grapefruit.

Answer: It's either an orange or a grapefruit.

Grumpy Scot

Question: What is the song playing when Napoleon is riding the horse up to the wedding? It is a symphony playing with French horns and strings predominantly.

Answer: Forever young.

Question: I've watched this movie several times, and there is no foul language in this film yet the MPAA rated this film PG for language. Why?

Answer: And the man shooting the cow.

Answer: It's rated PG for "parental guidance" suggested due to some thematic elements.

Toolio

Answer: Uncle Rico trying to sell breast enlargement supplements to various women including a teenager undoubtedly factored into the final rating.

Phaneron

Answer: They do say "ret**ded" and things like "Freaking Idiot."

Question: Who is the woman on the bike that rides up and meets Uncle Rico toward the end of the movie? Is she Tammy, his previously mentioned girlfriend? If so, what is the significance of this scene and why is this her only part?

Answer: It is his girlfriend. He doesn't mention ever having been married and instead said that he broke up with his girlfriend.

Answer: I believe it was his estranged wife coming back to him. The only significance is that 'in the end, everything will be ok.'

Toolio

Answer: Isn't that Trisha's mom?

Yes, it's Trisha's mom.

No it is not. The woman on the bike is Asian. Trisha's mom is caucasian and has lighter hair color as well.

Phaneron

Answer: In the movie, that is Tammy, but in real life, that's Kip's wife.

Question: Why did Trisha's mom force her to go to the dance with Napoleon?

Answer: When Uncle Rico is selling stuff to Tricia's mom, he mentions how Napoleon has had a hard life. (I believe he talks about how Napoleon lost his parents or something to that extent, if I remember correctly.) Tricia's mom feels sorry for Napoleon, and makes Tricia go out with him.

Krista

No he tells her he still pee in his bed and gets bullied in school.

There was nothing said about bullying. But she did feel bad.

Chosen answer: According to the trivia section of IMDb.com, Jon Heder created all of the drawings in the film except the unicorn.

Michael Albert

Continuity mistake: When Napoleon is asking Pedro if he is going to eat his tater tots the position of the tots keep changing between shots.

More mistakes in Napoleon Dynamite

Deb: What are you drawing?
Napoleon Dynamite: A liger.
Deb: What's a liger?
Napoleon Dynamite: It's pretty much my favorite animal. It's like a lion and a tiger mixed... Bred for its skills in magic.

More quotes from Napoleon Dynamite

Trivia: Co-writer/director Jared Hess and his wife, co-writer Jerusha, are Mormon, which explains why there is no profanity in the script.

Phaneron

More trivia for Napoleon Dynamite

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