In response to the success of the offbeat 2004 film “Napoleon Dynamite,” Fox has created an animated spin-off with the same name with the hope that the cartoon version will be just as popular.
The new television show, which premiered this Sunday, Jan. 15 at 8:30 p.m., features the voices of the beloved original cast; Jon Heder, Aaron Ruell and Efren Ramirez. Amy Poehler and Jermaine Clement made guest appearances, as well.
Writers and directors of the original film, Jared and Jerusha Hess, are the creators and producers for the new show and Mike Scully from “The Simpsons” is the executive producer.
“Napoleon Dynamite” follows the lives of Napoleon and his dysfunctional friends and family members in their hometown of Preston, Idaho.
The first episode finds Napoleon using a new acne cream that makes him impervious to pain. This leads to his induction into an underground fight club. Meanwhile his brother, Kip, desperately tries to woo Misty (Poehler), a girl he met online.
In the second part of Sunday’s premiere, Napoleon’s science teacher (Clement) attempts to match each of his students with their soul mate through the use of a machine called Scantronica.
The show uses the same deadpan delivery that Jon Heder brought to the original, but this humor proves to be difficult to translate in to cartoon form.
At first glance, the show seems to have a decent amount of potential, but the animation is underwhelming and it has so far garnered lackluster reviews.
David Wiegand, a writer for The San Francisco Chronicle, said the show fell flat. “The problem is the writing … A two-dimensional Heder isn’t as entertaining,” he said.
Hopefully, the show will live up to its high expectations in upcoming episodes.
Reach the reporter at okhiel@asu.edu.
