# What good things can I say about Napolean Dynamite? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 23, 2006, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-things-can-i-say-about-napolean-dynamite/341329 "2006-01-23T23:46:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2006, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-things-can-i-say-about-napolean-dynamite/341329/1 "2006-01-23T23:46:39Z")
I received Napolean Dynamite for Christmas. I confess that I didn’t love it. I am probably going to see the people who gave it to me this weekend. I don’t want to lie, but I don’t want to hurt their feelings either. So, for you fans of Napolean - help me craft a review that isn’t too bad AND isn’t a lie. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2006, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-things-can-i-say-about-napolean-dynamite/341329/2 "2006-01-23T23:50:03Z")
I feel your pain. Just say, “I found it to be well-focused. The lighting was superb and I could understand the dialog without problems.” ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Angel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d26b3c/32.png) [@Johnny\_Angel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Angel)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2006, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-things-can-i-say-about-napolean-dynamite/341329/3 "2006-01-23T23:52:43Z")
I found it to be a kinder, gentler [Welcome to the Dollhouse](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114906/). ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2006, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-things-can-i-say-about-napolean-dynamite/341329/4 "2006-01-23T23:53:11Z")
I think you pretty much have to lie in these situations. “Yeah, it was pretty funny!” ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2006, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-things-can-i-say-about-napolean-dynamite/341329/5 "2006-01-23T23:55:38Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > I think you pretty much have to lie in these situations. “Yeah, it was pretty funny!” But then you’ll get caught in the “What was your favorite part?” trap. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2006, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-things-can-i-say-about-napolean-dynamite/341329/6 "2006-01-23T23:55:39Z")
I’m afraid the only response I could give would be “Why? Dear God why???” And lots of fist-shaking. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2006, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-things-can-i-say-about-napolean-dynamite/341329/7 "2006-01-23T23:55:47Z")
How do we know what you liked about it? If you didn’t like it, just say so. I don’t think you should pretend you liked it or invent good things to say about it if you don’t mean it? Was there anything at all that you laughed at? Any good lines? Did you like the dance at the end? If you can honestly say yes to any of those things then that’s what you should bring. EG. “I didn’t love it but I laughed at the brother/ Uncle Rico/ the Karate guy/ Pedro,” Anything like that should be fine. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Angel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d26b3c/32.png) [@Johnny\_Angel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Angel)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2006, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-things-can-i-say-about-napolean-dynamite/341329/8 "2006-01-24T00:01:41Z")
It’s not like you need to give a thumbs-up or thumbs-down vote. You simply say, “Man, I knew _all_ those motherfuckers in high school.” Your friends will say, “I know, right?” Then you toss around a few quotes and change the subject. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2006, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-things-can-i-say-about-napolean-dynamite/341329/9 "2006-01-24T00:04:00Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > How do we know what you liked about it? If you didn’t like it, just say so. \ Sorry for being confusing… Pretend that what I asked for was: > [@](#): > > help me craft a review that isn’t too bad AND isn’t a lie. and not whether or not I should tell them that I didn’t like it. > [@](#): > > **jjimm** > I’m afraid the only response I could give would be “Why? Dear God why???” And lots of fist-shaking. LOL. Tempting, very tempting! 😃 ::SIGH:: I guess not though. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2006, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-things-can-i-say-about-napolean-dynamite/341329/10 "2006-01-24T00:05:59Z")
> [@Johnny Angel](#): > > It’s not like you need to give a thumbs-up or thumbs-down vote. You simply say, “Man, I knew _all_ those motherfuckers in high school.” > > Your friends will say, “I know, right?” > > Then you toss around a few quotes and change the subject. Hmmmm. Not a bad idea - I can maybe work with that. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2006, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-things-can-i-say-about-napolean-dynamite/341329/11 "2006-01-24T00:41:11Z")
If they catch you in a lie, just tell them you couldn’t appreciate it as much after all the hype, overquoting, MTV awards, etc. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2006, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-things-can-i-say-about-napolean-dynamite/341329/12 "2006-01-24T00:45:56Z")
Say, “Vote for Oscar[sup]®[/sup]!” ---
**Author:** ![Caricci](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Caricci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caricci)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2006, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-things-can-i-say-about-napolean-dynamite/341329/13 "2006-01-24T03:07:32Z")
“Oh, that Tina!” ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2006, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-things-can-i-say-about-napolean-dynamite/341329/14 "2006-01-24T03:47:32Z")
If you and your friends get into an argument about it, just go for a walk. All that fresh air and exercise will do you a lot of good. ---
**Author:** ![nameless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/779978/32.png) [@nameless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nameless)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2006, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-things-can-i-say-about-napolean-dynamite/341329/15 "2006-01-24T04:58:54Z")
You: It was pretty much the worst movie ever made. Them: Like anyone can even know that, **Khadaji**. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2006, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-things-can-i-say-about-napolean-dynamite/341329/16 "2006-01-24T05:11:28Z")
The first time I saw it, I found it horrific. The thing that a lot of the people that I know love it, don’t understand how poor Napoleon is, especially compared to his school mates. Talk about living out lives of quiet desperation. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2006, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-things-can-i-say-about-napolean-dynamite/341329/17 "2006-01-24T06:06:12Z")
First of all, can anyone tell me the correllation between this thread and the Google ads at the bottom for heart problems? Secondly, I suggest that you watch the movie again. I didn’t love it, either, the first time I saw it. If nothing else, you’ll never hear “Canned Heat” by Jamiroquai (the song that Napoleon dances to at the end) without thinking of the movie. ---
**Author:** ![singular1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba9def/32.png) [@singular1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/singular1)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2006, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-things-can-i-say-about-napolean-dynamite/341329/18 "2006-01-24T12:28:47Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > Secondly, I suggest that you watch the movie again. I didn’t love it, either, the first time I saw it. I’ve got to agree with this. We rented it, and reactions went from “meh” to “WTF?” to “anything else on?”. However, when it made it to HBO, we caught parts of it pretty frequently, and actually came to enjoy it in time. There are some pretty funny, if understated, performances in it. Still not a big fan, but I’ll watch it if it’s on. But don’t force yourself - you’ll just resent it. Give it another shot in a month or so, and let us know if it changes at all for you. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2006, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-things-can-i-say-about-napolean-dynamite/341329/19 "2006-01-24T13:01:56Z")
> [@](#): > > What good things can I say about Napolean Dynamite? Whatever you want. Gosh! (Sorry. You set that up too well.) Say that it was very different from anything else you’d ever seen (likely factually true in any case) and that you don’t feel you got it. They may try to explain it to you, at which point you can either listen politely or actually engage in debate, or they may Nod Knowingly and shift the topic. Either way you win. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2006, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-things-can-i-say-about-napolean-dynamite/341329/20 "2006-01-24T13:07:30Z")
Just say, “Man, I could relate to that.” or something like that. Regardless of the overall suckosity of the movie, there had to be scenes that you thought were better or worse than others. Just say, “I didn’t quite get blah, blah, blah” or “that one girl was hot” or something along those lines. If they ask, “So what did you think?”, say something like, “it was an interesting take on blah, blah, blah.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-things-can-i-say-about-napolean-dynamite/341329.md?page=2)