What year does Napolean Dynamite take place?

In the opening credits, I think they show Napolean's school ID & it says "2004-2005". But the moon boots, nunchucks & BMX bikes are unmistakably 80's.

No. I think it's very specifically set in the "present day," to the extent that anything in the movie is to be taken as a "faithful" recreation of an era and a setting. (Criminy, the kid dances to "Canned Heat" at the end!) More likely, the moon boots and side ponytails are supposed to be a light joke at the ten-years-behind-the-curve-ness of rural America. LaFawnda's mix tape is Napoleon's key to the mystical other world. (Choosing Jamiroquai is a masterstroke because it evokes both rubber-limbed faux-funk as well as alterna-pop overproduced gloss. It's not particularly more outré than the teen pop Hilary Duff's sister dances to at the rally, but everyone thinks it is and that's all that matters.)

Can't say I buy into the film wholesale, though.

I'm not so sure we should be asking what year. I think "what dimension" is more like it. For my money, I'd say it's a dimension that should never be explored in movies again as to avoid burdening the world with crap like this again.

Ditto.

Far better films have been ostensibly set in the present while retaining a '70s/80s vibe, ie Rushmore. (Hell, even The Rules of Attraction is better than ND.)

It was certainly not deserving of the attention it's gotten. It's a fun movie for the pre-teen set. Case closed.

The best thing I can say for it is that the main actor nails his part to a T. The overreachingly sullenness to a) stave off heat from the jocks/bullies/etc, and b) hopefully seem like one of the jocks/bullies/etc through association to those who are lower on the social totem pole, or kids in lower grades.

im not much of a film buff, i was just posting that out of curiosity, but i have to say that ND is one of the sweetest movies ive seen in a while (not sweet as in SWEET! but as in nice.)

i just finished watching American Splendor, which im much more in love with.

be gentle guys....