Jake and I tried to watch Napoleon Dynamite tonight (and I emphasis the word “tried”). I can maybe see it being funny if I was drunk or maybe you just have to be in the right mood, but I didn’t laugh once. We turned it off after about 20 minutes, we just couldn’t take it anymore. I have had multiple people tell me it was funny so I’m not sure what to think. I wanted to like it but it felt like there were a lot of scenes that made me think “what the hell, I think that was suppose to be funny….but……” As for my recommendation, I would say only watch it if you are drunk or in the right mood. As for what the right mood is, your guess is as good as mine.
No, you chose right. One night people brought that movie to our place and I did the equivalent of what you did: 30 minutes in I opted to fall asleep rather than stay awake watching this lurching, painfully unfunny movie. I woke up from my haze every 10-15 minutes to see if it had gotten better but no, no it had not.
I think we gave it more than 20 minutes, but yeah, we turned it off. I wasn’t hating the movie, but I also wasn’t enjoying it at all. I felt like I could sit there and watch it without killing myself, but I knew I could find a bunch of better things to do with my time than watch the lame attempt at humor...
Katie and I have seen it twice. Marginally funnier on the second time. Actually, it was only funnier to watch the facial expressions of those in the room who hadn't seen it yet. It gets better toward the end. The Napolean's dance and Kip's "evolution" when his girlfriend visits is entertaining.
It's basically a really dry/lowkey humor. Your mood for this movie would probably be about as rare as being in the mood to watch Monty Python's Holy Grail in your adulthood.
If you have a free coupon for a movie rental that is expiring soon and there's nothing else to watch or do on a raindy bleh day....then this is the movie for you. lol