I still remember when Napoleon Dynamite was released in 2004. It introduced us to Jon Heder as a performer, and his unique brand of comedy and mannerisms. He was a breakout star from that film and has continued to appear over the past 20 years.

But during that time, he’s continued to deliver characters that feel an awful lot like Napoleon. That’s certainly true of his latest film, Tapawingo. It’s a small, off-beat comedy that debuts on streaming Tuesday.

The film follows Nate Skoog (Heder), an adult living at home with his mother (Amanda Bearse). He has a menial job and a best friend, Will Luna (Jay Pichardo), with whom he shares a variety of interests, including martial arts training. Soon, his life is thrown upside down as he ends up being asked to chauffer the boss’s son, Oswalt (Sawyer Williams).

Nate makes a connection with Oswalt. He also connects with the woman Oswalt is tutoring, Gretchen (Kim Matula), who works at a local arcade. She takes a shine to Nate, too, and they begin a flirtation.

But when Oswalt runs afoul of some local bullies, and Nate intercedes, he finds himself in the middle of a dispute. That puts him, his friends, his family, and his new relationship at risk. Will he step up and do right by Oswalt or withdraw from the conflict.

This film had a long journey to viewers. It made a debut as a rough cut in late 2023 before getting more of a wide release over the past two years. Now, it’s set to be available on streaming platforms today. That will give more people a chance to find this off-beat comedy.

It has a good cast. In addition to those mentioned, the film co-stars Billy Zane, John Ratzenberger, and Gina Gershon, among others. It also has an interesting look and pacing that add to the off-beat humor of the moment.

The film is directed by Dylan K. Narang, who co-wrote the script with Brad DeMarea. It’s an interesting idea and turns out to be a sprawling, screwball epic. But at nearly two hours, it feels a bit long for the kind of story it wants to tell.

This feels like it wants to be Napoleon Dynamite grown up. There’s the same vibe for Heder’s Nate, and his friendship with Will feels of a piece with that film, too. But it lacks some of the quirky charm. There are fun moments, but this feels a little more by-the-numbers. It’s a fine film but doesn’t feel overly compelling.

If you’re a fan of Heder and looking for some off-beat comedy, this is worth a try.

Tapawingo is now available on streaming platforms.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.