Have I mentioned how hard it was to plan for this week? It was really hard. There are so many movies that I love and so many characters that I love. Plus I wanted to have a variety of characters. I mean, really, I could have picked seven characters from Star Wars or something like that, but I wanted this list to be somewhat diverse. Today’s selection is part of that effort. It is a little weird, but it is from a movie I can’t help but love. So…
Napoleon Dynamite
Napoleon Dynamite is the main protagonist in the film of the same name. He is weird and quirky and more than just a little socially awkward. He is also extremely loyal to his friends and family. He does whatever he can to help them. He is also fearless. Think about it. He asks out his crush, even though I think he knew he didn’t really have a shot. He also stood and danced in front of the school to bail his friend out.
Listen, I know Napoleon Dynamite is not for everyone. My wife, for example, doesn’t really like the film. She doesn’t like the humor and the story is a little slow. I can understand that. I also get that it was way overhyped when it first came out. Everyone around here thought it was the most amazing film ever. It wasn’t. It was what it was. You either love it or you hate it.
Why Napoleon Dynamite?
I think it is pretty clear that Napoleon is not “normal.” I don’t know if he is supposed to be on the autism spectrum or if there is something else going on there. The film never defines it. And it, whatever it is, doesn’t define Napoleon. That can be a pretty powerful message to kids and parents alike. You may have quirks that make you stand out in the crowd, but you decide whether that is a positive thing or not.
I’m not trying to make this film into anything more than it is. It’s not earth shattering cinema with a super deep message. I get that. Napoleon is a great character, though. He doesn’t settle for what people expect. He follows his heart and chases his dreams. And he encourages others to do the same. In fact the film is full of characters that follow their dreams and don’t give up. From Uncle Rico, who still dreams of winning state, to Kip, who recognizes true love when he sees it and doesn’t let anything or anyone stand in his way. And all of these crazy people revolve around Napoleon. That’s why I love Napoleon Dynamite.
30 Days 30 Characters
This fun series is running all month long. If you have missed one of the previous posts, they are listed as links below. Feel free to catch up and feel free to share them all with your friends.
