Napoleon Dynamite (2004 Jared Hess & co-scr)

Written with his brother Jerusha, this is a real oddball oddity, from credits written on various plates of unappealing food, which recur throughout the film.

With his downward glances, sudden eating and drinking moves and generally odd ways of doing things (even, in sweet post-credits scene - riding a horse), Jon Heder is definitely a unique screen creation. His mate Pedro hardly expresses himself, either (Efren Ramirez). Also very odd are Napoleon's brother Aaron Ruell (who ends up with tall black Shondrella Avery, also in the Secret Life of Bees) and uncle Jon Gries. Tina Majorino is the photographer.

One of those films in which it wouldn't hurt to know where and when you are from the off - it's clearly the early eighties. It was filmed in Idaho. The score is very bizarre too - sounds like it's all played on one of those home organs.

One of Edgar Wright's comedy recommendations. The Hesses also made jack Black film Nacho Libre, Gentlemen Broncos, Don Verdean (with Sam Rockwell, Amy Ryan and Will Forte, but poorly reviewed) and lately Masterminds (not written, mixed reviews again).