THE UCI cinema at Merry Hill continued its excellent Director's Chair series with Napoleon Dynamite, a quirky comedy about the pitfalls and dubious privileges of being a geek.

Arriving just as the film found its way on to DVD, it tells the story of Napoleon, a nerd who suffers few feelings of adequacy because he knows what the girls love - "skills" such as bow hunting and computer hacking.

Throw into the mix a muscle-bound, steak-eating, money-making-scheme-plotting uncle, an even wimpier brother, a school election and the inevitable dollop of romance and you have an eccentric comedy that never quite hits the mark.

Sure, there are brilliant jokes among the sharp dialogue and Napoleon's deadpan delivery gives the film a great central character.

Yet Napoleon Dynamite lacks heart, despite having the right ingredients - family, romance and friendship. It is as if the movie is too caught up in its own quirkiness to get under the skin of the characters.

Only at the end, as the election comes to a head, is director/lead star, Jared Hess, prepared to really let go and emotionally grip audience. The result is brilliant.

Considering its minor reputation as a cult classic in waiting, fans of independent, bold cinema will be disappointed but, if you are stuck for something to rent, few other new releases will guarantee this many laughs. OE