Want to feel old? On June 11, it will be 15 years to the day since the hit comedy Napoleon Dynamite was first released in theaters.
Naturally, cult followers of the film will mark the occasion with tether ball games, llama feedings and movie screenings to re-experience Napoleon in all its 2004 glory. Locally, Cincinnati fans can celebrate with Gorilla Cinema, the group behind movie-inspired bars Overlook Lodge, Tokyo Kitty and The Video Archive, and WEBN as they host a special Napoleon Dynamite anniversary celebration.
Starting at 7 p.m., the Video Archive will host an evening of activities to commemorate everyone's favorite liger-drawing anti-hero.
The film will start playing at 9 p.m., but there are plenty of incentives to arrive early. The first 40 attendees will get a “Vote for Frog” T-shirt styled after the movie’s “Vote for Pedro” shirt (because a frog is WEBN’s mascot). Fans can also show off their “skills” at two Napoleon Dynamite-inspired contests.
There will be a tether ball tournament at 7 p.m. and a “D-Qwon's Dance Grooves” competition at 8 p.m. Winners of both contests will get two meet-and-greet tickets for the Young the Giant and Fitz & The Tantrums show on June 18 at PNC Pavilion.
It’s safe to assume that this would be the perfect night to return to the cringiness of your highschool wardrobe, so pull out your scrunchies and old-school glasses, shove some tots in your pocket and don’t forget to do “whatever you feel like you wanna do. Gosh!”
7-11 p.m. June 11. Free. The Video Archive, 965 E. McMillan, Walnut Hills. More info here.