The time machine in Napoleon Dynamite worked

Before the time machine, Napoleon complains of having no skills. After the time machine, he's a great dancer, artist, bass fisherman, and milk-taster.

Before the time machine, Grandma has a broken coccyx which would have severely limited her mobility, given her age. After the time machine, she's standing there outside with Tina looking no worse for wear.

Before the time machine, Rico sells the tupperware knockoff, and seems to be doing well (flaunting the $120 proceeds). After the time machine, suddenly he's creepily selling Bust Must herbal enhancers to underage girls. A sudden, unexplained change of character and sales strategy.

Before the time machine, Napoleon is in the Happy Hands club, but Summer is not. After the time machine, Napoleon is not in the club, but Summer is; they wear dance outfits, and the song is different.

Two songs play at the dance, while Rico is back home presumably attempting to use the time machine: "Time After Time", and "Forever Young".



I think Rico successfully went back to '82, altered a few events, creating a ripple effect through time which ultimately led him to find his soul mate, which is what he was after all along.