Peluca

I gave this short film a 10 for a very specific reason: This film became a springboard for both the Writer/Director and the Lead Actor. The fact that this film cost 2 days and $500 makes it quite fantastic that the careers of at least two young men have been assured.

As many already know, this is the short which Jered Hess and Jon Heder made in Preston, Idaho...detailing what amounts to a day-in-the-life of a smalltown nerd. Heder's character development of what would become Napoleon Dynamite (Seth, in this film) is obviously undercooked, but the ingredients are all there, and it tastes just as sweet. Think "Cookie Dough".

In the Director's Commentary, Hess admits to messing up the exposure which shows itself in most of the outdoor shots, and while it's a little distracting, overall it almost lends a kind of "low-rent" charm which you quickly get used to.

9 minutes of quirky angst, and you can't help but grin throughout. Film "quality" issues aside, and keeping in mind this is basically a "student film" in regards to writing and character dev, and it's really just very cool that the small amount of effort which was undertaken could blossom into a Feature Film deal and an underground hit.

Word-up to all aspiring actors and directors: All you need is 2 days, $500 bux, a quirky idea, some basic film skills, some ninja skills, an interesting character, and a belief in yourself and you too can give up your day job and move to Los Angeles for an exciting career in the Movies!

...which beats a decroded piece of crap anyday!

This is pretty weird. It's like another version of Napoleon Dynamite. And there are different actors playing the same characters. And also the picture quality's not clear and it's in black and white. It's pretty weird. This is a video of what Jon Heder took when he was in Film School. It looks more like a sneaky video if it's in black and white. This is okay but unusual though. And 9 minutes does seem like enough time for this clip-like movie. It looks like it should only be sold for $3.00 or I prefer to say $1.00! And it's a weird name too for this movie. Peluca. It sounds like some Spanish word! But if you like really odd movies, you can see this one. But... watch the original Napoleon Dynamite first. Then you'll see what I mean. You'll like Napoleon Dynamite better than this cheap stuff. I certainly do.

This is a slice of life thing with the people from Napoleon Dynamite. The whole thing is to be as bland and autistic as possible as these guys maneuver their ways through a day in and out of school. There is some really clever stuff. Despite being on a nearly empty bus, the main character goes to the back and sits next to some kids half his age. Good work.

David Hess's first short film was a prototype that would serve as the basis for his first feature film and one of cinema's most outstanding characters. Peluca is a small student project that portrays a simple friendship many will have experienced in their adolescence. Due to its budget, it's a fairly small-scale production with a mediocre level of production. Unfortunately, the footage has aged very poorly because a higher-quality camera wasn't used to keep the quality intact. But behind its mediocre appearance lies a diamond in the rough. The characters Seth, Pedro, and Giel have good chemistry that makes their relationship believable. Jon Heder was already giving a preview of his iconic character that would catapult him to fame. Seth is the first sketch of the famous Napoleon Dynamite, and his peculiar personality is already on display. Although it's just a prototype, it's already a good preview of what would later be seen in the extended version. Peluca is ideal to watch before exploring David Hess's filmography and before diving into the world of Napoleon Dynamite. My final rating for this short film is 6/10.

I have seen Napolean Dynamite a good 6 times, and just finally saw "Peluca". Don't let the die-hards fool you - this thing is a mess. It shows promise and Hess is about as good as he is in "Dynamite", but the cinematography is awful, the "Gosh!" and "Idiot!"s are way overused.. I can't believe they got the green light to make a major motion picture based on this.

Again, that said, I love Napolean Dynamite, and am glad they re-cast the character of Pedro, among others. It just wouldn't have worked the way they originally set out.

It's on side 1 of the DVD if you want to check it out.