Napoleon Dynamite" Review: Not All That Explosive.Fans of the 2004 film "Napoleon Dynamite" is a selection made fiercely loyal. They are also a bit of a niche audience, which could be a difficult proposition as a crossover hit animation in the best possible scenario. Unfortunately, the first series of Sunday (January 15) of "Napoleon Dynamite" on FOX is not the best scenario possible.
Make no mistake. We wanted this show to succeed, because we loved the movie and everyone attached to it - most of which are animated for the ride, too. Jon Heder (Napoleon) is here, with Jon Gries (Uncle Rico), Aaron Ruell (Kip), Efren Ramirez (Pedro) and the incomparable Diedrich Bader (Rex). Not to mention Tina Majorino (Deb) and Sandy Martin (Grandmother).
Unexpected part of the genius of the film was impassive delivery of the actors - a lot of the humor is visual. Unfortunately, it does not translate to animation - at least not this animation. Taken together, the monotone and 2D characters end up falling flat.
The jokes also feel like they would have served the best show in 2004 - and in some cases earlier. The premise is that the first Napoleon gains super-strength of a zit cream and joined the PPC - the "punch Pioneer Club" (aka Fight Club).
Of course it's a way to get Rex in the story at first, but the "Fight Club" reference feels stale, as the joke Kip to have a virtual pet.really, Jared Hess? Tamagotchi was introduced in 1996.Perhaps the desperate behind-the-times Kip would still play with, but we're not sure that much of the audience will even get it.
In addition, the whole thing zit: Gross. Except for a few fetish solitude there are probably very few people who like to watch (and hear) the buttons are skipped. Especially when things get to the point of Grandma try to pop with a hunting knife.
Yes, it's bad.
Silver Lining: There's nowhere to go but up.
Make no mistake. We wanted this show to succeed, because we loved the movie and everyone attached to it - most of which are animated for the ride, too. Jon Heder (Napoleon) is here, with Jon Gries (Uncle Rico), Aaron Ruell (Kip), Efren Ramirez (Pedro) and the incomparable Diedrich Bader (Rex). Not to mention Tina Majorino (Deb) and Sandy Martin (Grandmother).
Unexpected part of the genius of the film was impassive delivery of the actors - a lot of the humor is visual. Unfortunately, it does not translate to animation - at least not this animation. Taken together, the monotone and 2D characters end up falling flat.
The jokes also feel like they would have served the best show in 2004 - and in some cases earlier. The premise is that the first Napoleon gains super-strength of a zit cream and joined the PPC - the "punch Pioneer Club" (aka Fight Club).
Of course it's a way to get Rex in the story at first, but the "Fight Club" reference feels stale, as the joke Kip to have a virtual pet.really, Jared Hess? Tamagotchi was introduced in 1996.Perhaps the desperate behind-the-times Kip would still play with, but we're not sure that much of the audience will even get it.
In addition, the whole thing zit: Gross. Except for a few fetish solitude there are probably very few people who like to watch (and hear) the buttons are skipped. Especially when things get to the point of Grandma try to pop with a hunting knife.
Yes, it's bad.
Silver Lining: There's nowhere to go but up.
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