When I heard that they were going to make an animated series based on the hilarious cult fave movie “Napoleon Dynamite,” I knew — just knew — I’d hate it.
For one thing, I love the movie. And for another? Why would they animate characters who were already so insanely cartoonish in the flesh?
Here’s the answer: Because, as it turns out, the animated version of “Napoleon Dynamite” is almost as funny as a cartoon version as it was in the flesh.
One reason is that the new series, premiering Sunday night, is voiced by all the original actors — Jon Heder is Napoleon; Aaron Ruell is his freakish, 1970s, man-brother Kip; Efren Ramirez is Napoleon’s best friend Pedro, who is now the class president; Tina Majorino is love-sick Deb; Sandy Martin is bra-sporting Grandma; Jon Gries is ne’er-do-well Uncle Rico; and even Diedrich Bader is back as Rex (Kwon Do), owner of the local dojo.
With the whole original gang assembled, you almost feel as if you’re watching (if possible) an even more bizarre version of the original.
In the premiere, Napoleon’s forehead breaks out in horrible, puss-filled pimples when he gets hit with fried chicken from the gas station.
The unlicensed pharmacist gives him a tube of banned “Rackutane” (remember Accutane?), which will clear up the zits but has side effects that include incredibly bad breath, BO and uncontrollable rage.
Somehow, this leads Napoleon into the PPC (Pioneer Punch Club), where he ends up with his high pants and aviators, cage-fighting against a steroid lady-brawler and then with his creepy brother Kip, who is in full moustache and brown shorts.
They fight, because Kip has finally found a woman after trawling the Internet for years. He’s won her over with his spray-on six pack. But when he introduces her to his brother saying, “Here’s the cowgirl who finally tamed this wild stal-iun,” she immediately falls for Dynamite and his unbridled rages.
They fight it out in the cage, but, as the Rackutane wears off, the brothers end up hair-pulling and slapping each other.
Yes, I was laughing out loud.
In the next episode, Dynamite’s science teacher makes love matches between the students with his “Scantronica” machine. Napoleon gets matched up with the new Japanese student, who informs him that she wants to be thoroughly American.
“I want to go to the prom and throw up in a limousine. I want to make everything sound like a question?”
Meantime, Kip, at the urging of Uncle Rico, has decided that a good way to earn a living is to become an illusionist and hypnotic dancer.
The series was created by the guys who brought you the original movie, Jared and Jerusha Hess, as well as Mike Scully of “The Simpsons” and “Everybody Loves Raymond”— which is why it’s so funny.
Gosh, in fact, I was laughing so hard that my Afro began shaking violently enough to cause my aviators to crash to the ground, the heartbreaking sound of plastic and wire ripping through the air silencing my revelry.