'Napoleon Dynamite' proves to be weak animated series

Air Date: January 15th, 2012

 

Episode(s): "Thundercone" and "Scantronica Love"

Cast: Jon Heder, Aaron Ruell, Efren Ramirez, Jon Gries

Last night I decide to give the new animated series Napoleon Dynamite  a shot and it was possibly the worst animated show I've seen in awhile.

Well maybe since Allen Gregory which was just cancelled.

Napoleon  Dynamite is based on the 2004 film of the same name, and features the voices of the original cast voicing the characters they played.

I think the lesson after the two- episode premiere last night is that no matter who you have voicing the characters, if it isn't funny, it really doesn't matter.

I like the movie a lot, but the animated series brings nothing new to the table making the same type of jokes in different situations. That gets old pretty quick, and by the end of episode (both of them) 

you get the feeling that 2004 called and wants its quirky and awkward humor back.

Humor and new material weren't the only elements lacking in the two-episode premiere last night. What made Napoleon Dynamite work back in 2004 was the comedy, but also the charm. The film came off as innocent, a little strange, and in a way kind of sweet.

The animated show has none of these factors, and is at a major disadvantage. Napoleon Dynamite then has to  rely on the comedy to keep its head above water, but of course that is where the show encounters the most trouble.

I'm not trying to be mean here, but after an hour of laugh free comedy, some questions need to be raised about the quality of the show being put on air.

I'm starting to wonder who thought trying to make Napoleon Dynamite as an animated series was a good idea, because this isn't the first time that I've seen Fox produce a clunker of an animated comedy.

Shows like Bob's Burgers and Allen Gregory are prime examples of poor decision making, and I think green lighting Napoleon Dynamite was equally bad.

It won't be easy to save this show, but if there is a will there is a way I suppose. For Napoleon Dynamite to be successful the show should take in some of the charm from the film, and leave some of the jokes behind.

Fresh comedy and newly discovered charm would do wonders for the Napoleon Dynamite, but I have to admit that I haven't seen much worse than this when it comes to an animated TV series. It will be interesting to see what the future hold for the show, maybe more interesting than the show itself.

Grade : F