If you thought Napolean Dynamite was outrageous back in the day, but you were wondering what those types of characters were up to after high school, it’s time to take a trip to Tapawingo, where the small-town charm of a group of quirky, off-beat characters with plenty of eccentricities will keep you entertained just like that instant cult classic of 2004, if not even more so.
I won’t lie: After watching Napolean early on in my college journey, I’ve spouted many oneliners from that fateful film for the past 21 years and chuckled at each one as if it was the very first time hearing each one of them. The writing of Jared Hess and Jerusha Hess was ahead of its time; the underhyped delivery by the entire ensemble cast was so pitch perfect, the film’s humor may have gone over the head of so many of its viewers, but not me!
Those are familiar feelings I get after watching Tapawingo, which feels like a spiritual sequel.
As the film opens, Nate Skoog (portrayed by Jon Heder) could be an older, mustachioed and mullet-wearing Napolean, who still hasn’t fully grown up while still living at home with his mom. He drives a dune buggy and he’s got a temp job working at an insurance agency, but he spends the majority of his time with best friend Will Luna (Jay Pichardo) — not Pedro — both of them dreaming about becoming mercenaries one day. So, when the moment comes to protect his boss’ kid from the local schoolyard bullies, Nate rounds up some unlikely allies for an inevitable under-the-radar turf war.
Sandwiched between it all is Nate’s budding relationship with Gretchen (Kim Matula), which definitely creates some difficulties with the bullies.
“You kinda taste like slushie…”
Gina Gershon is up to no good in Tapawingo. Photo Courtesy: Magnolia Pictures/Indican Pictures.
When I make the bold claim that this little movie boasts the best ensemble cast that I’ve watched in a long time, I’m not simply blowing smoke. I was absolutely amazed by the work that’s on display by Heder (naturally), George and Paul Psarras, John Ratzenberger, Gina Gershon and Billy Zane, among others. Young Sawyer Williams also holds his own and now I’m definitely following Kim Matula’s career (I didn’t really know much about either before this one).
Meticulously, each of their characters feels unique and necessary for the storyline. And I’d love to see each of these actors reuniting to collaborate with Writer-Director Dylan K. Narang in future films, much like Wes Anderson’s recurring troupe.
If you previously didn’t fully understand the greatness of Jon Heder, please watch this film. While the actor may not have exactly chosen the best projects to follow up Napoleon Dynamite with, in this role, he immediately brings back the same vibes that originally made a name for himself. Paired with his goofy-but-great, camo-wearing best friend, you can never really tell if they’re burnout slackers or they’re simply unmotivated by real-life issues (like making money) — they’re definitely not drug dealers!
“There is always mail that needs to be sorted…”
Raise your hand if you think Tapawingo is absolutely outrageous! Photo Courtesy: Magnolia Pictures/Indican Pictures.
Another great aspect of this film is what feels like “Midwest charm.” Almost all of the characters have at least one relatable character trait, so none of them truly feel polarizing, but I most noticed the language of the script, which is entirely clean, using a whole lot of alternate curse words. Expecting to hear something harsh at some point, I chuckled every time I heard one.
“Tapawingo” is a little awkward as the film’s title. It’s a word I was originally unfamiliar with, but after watching the film twice, I realized it was both “the city of paved roads,” as well as the name of a local park in the story. As a fan of subtle references hidden within scripts, I’m not exactly sure the place that supposedly translates from the Native American word meaning “place of joy,” pairs well with the location of the big-fight finale, but the irony doesn’t miss me.
Writer-Director Dylan K. Narang does a great job personifying small-town life, bringing so many subtle laughs to the screen, I feel like I have actually lived there during my younger years. Cleary, Narang differentiates Tapawingo from Dynamite, but the film is just as funny.
You should definitely take a lesson from Mike’s Master Class in Martial Arts (as seen during the closing credits): Jon Heder and his cohorts are still poseurs. And the actors are still quite funny — they would feel quite different and strangely less familiar had Heder not been cast as the lead actor. I’m glad he was chosen, because he brings a lot to the role. If you like awkward comedy by a great oddball ensemble, a trip to Tapawingo should be in your near future.
“Sometimes, the craziest thing and the right thing is the same…”