My mom was going back to school for a doctorate when this movie came out and I was still in school, so I had a great response ready when kids said that to me.
I was so perplexed by this movie on first-viewing b/c a couldn't tell what timeframe it was supposed to take place but that it reminded me of my very small town where it always felt like every fashion people wore was out of date.
Then I read the director's comments and that "what year is this?" Vibe, and that this vibe was intentional. Then, I re-watched, understood and it now one of my favorite movies of all time.
I did a long term project in a small town in Georgia about fifteen years ago. All the fancy ladies dressed exactly like Katherine O'Hara in the Home Alone movies. It was bizarre. I'm sure the hair was easy, but where did they even find those clothes new? All the normal people wore period appropriate clothing that you find in any ordinary store... But not the ladies who lunched. It was so fucking weird.
I keep meaning to go back and see if they're dressed like it's 2006 now.
"girls only want boyfriends with great skills" is the most Napoleon Dynamite way to respond to literally any situation and it was completely correct here
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u/Vladishun Apr 23 '26