Napoleon Dynamite at Mahalia Jackson
Napoleon Dynamite Live at Mahalia Jackson Theater was a truly unforgettable experience, and I felt like it made me remember who I was before tech took over. I was just expecting a simple, calm question-and-answer session with the main cast after the namesake movie played, but I was happily wrong. The stage underneath the movie screen was beset with a couch, a makeshift tetherball pole, a pinata, and a few items that were not so clear. The room darkened, and one of the best films ever made played upon the screen uninterrupted.
After the screening and rave applause, the stage lights went up. A familiar voice introduced "A Mormon, a Mexican, and a Much Older Guy." But they didn't come out immediately. Jon Gries slowly walked out playing a bluesy guitar riff complete with a slide. Efren Ramirez approached from the other side playing harmonica. After warming up the audience, they gestured toward the theater's door as Jon Heder rode in on a bicycle, riding around the room as his fans cheered.
The three gentlemen did not conduct a mild-mannered conversation with audience questions. This is a high-energy, highly-interactive show that they orchestrate themselves (no host or helper needed). After acquiring a crystal from a man in the front row, they were able to power up their internet marketplace time machine to take us all back to 2001. Jon Heder thoroughly explained how Jared Hess, his film school classmate, came to him with this script and said that he would film it two years later. Jon was enthralled when he read this script feeling like it closely resembled his childhood, and the two film school chums bided time working on small projects until the day came when Napoleon Dynamite began filming. Jon Heder, of course, took the title role. Efran Ramirez explained his tale of choosing to portray Pedro over taking a role in The Alamo. The popular role of Uncle Rico was manned by Jon Gries, and he told a hilarious story about his odd first encounter with Jared Hess. I won't divulge all the secrets, but Jared said that Uncle Rico is a mix of David Hasselhoff, Burt Reynolds, and Elvis. But creepy.
The importance of this little indie film that used townsfolk playing themselves instead of Hollywood actors, no stunt doubles, real items instead of props, and the only trailer was for Dolly the Llama was heavily underscored. 22 years later, they're touring just to talk about it! There were many kids in the audience who had seen it a few times and loved it, and some adults who were seeing it for the very first time. The two Jons and Efran sank into the crowd exchanging questions for tubes of Chapstick and foam footballs. Some lucky people were chosen to recreate a few lines of dialogue with the actors. A 15-year-old kid totally nailed the trivia questions, and another group of children did the Happy Hands Club sign language performance for tots and cake. The whole shebang culminated in a dance off of those in costume. A Deb-lookalike and one Vote for Pedro Napoleon took home some sweet autographed prizes.
I was blown away by the The Two Jons and Efran's commitment to making this a special event for everyone. And the fact that they didn't hire a "host" to lead it made it even better. It was more intimate and playful. Just reminiscing about a simpler time. Think about it: there was only one cell phone appearance in the film, and it wasn't a closeup shot. I remember going to the old movie theater in Mandeville one night just to see it knowing nothing about it; it was about to leave theaters. And I was totally lost in it. It felt timeless and peaceful, but still fun and funny. Then Napoleon danced. I think my life changed forever. I cling harder every year to old tech, old music, old stuff, things that were in this movie because we've lost so much to the advent of smartphones and social media that took hold right after this film came out. Napoleon Dynamite was the bookend of an era to which we can't return.
I highly recommend this experience to anyone who even kind of liked this movie, and to young ones who never experienced a time like this. Thank you Jon Heder, Efran Ramirez, and Jon Gries not just for this night, but for Napoleon Dynamite.
