Friday, July 7, 2006

Things That Make You Go Sweeet: A Napoleon Dynamite Film Festival

I'll admit that I reluctantly watched "Napoleon Dynamite" about a year ago, after hearing some co-workers rave on and on about how funny it was.  A few of the guys at work could quote the movie word-for-word, much like I can quote "Gone With The Wind." I gave in and watched the movie one night last summer.  It was strange, very strange.  I didn't laugh that much during the movie the first time I watched it, but after someone told me to watch it again, it started to sink in during my second viewing.  The next day after I watched it the second time, I caught myself saying "Heck yes" at work repeatedly. 

I read online the other day that a Napoleon Dynamite film festival is going on this week in Preston, Idaho (where "Napoleon Dynamite" was filmed).  But it's not your ordinary film festival, where they watch the film; this festival is filled with activities related to the movie.  Some of the activities going on this week are:

A Napoleon Dynamite parade through the town of Preston.
A Napoleon Dynamite tour with a map locating several places in which filming took place.
Oohh, how about a special performance from The Happy Hands Club in the Preston high school auditorium?
Think you have mad Tetherball skills? How about signing up for the Tetherball tournament?
Folks can also check out a tater tot eating contest and a football throwing contest too.
Finally, the festival wraps up with a Napoleon Dynamite look-a-like/moonboot dance contest.

The funniest part of this festival is not the tater tot eating contest - it's the fact that they won't be watching the actual film they're celebrating.  Heck yes, you'd think that would be the focal point of a film festival.  But no - the article said the festival visitors would not be watching the film.  I hope they had a good time any way. 

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