It is not often that a small, independent film becomes a bona fide pop culture phenomenon. But that is exactly what happened with 2004’s “Napoleon Dynamite,” an independently produced comedy that went on to gross more than $40 million in the United States alone.

A piece of the “Napoleon Dynamite” phenomenon will be coming to Ames when two of the film’s actors — Aaron Ruell, who played Kip, and Efren Ramirez, who played Pedro — are scheduled to speak at Stephens Auditorium on April 27.

Nicole O’Tool, senior in biology, says the film’s broad appeal lies in the fact that many can relate to the characters the movie presents.

“I think most people have felt awkward at some point in their lives, and people can identify with Napoleon,” O’Tool says.

In addition to characters viewers can relate to, the film’s humorously accurate portrayal of the high school experience is part of what makes the film enjoyable, says Garrett Schreiner, sophomore in aerospace engineering.

“It almost seemed like there wasn’t a plot,” Schreiner says. “It’s just everyday life for this guy. Everybody knew somebody in high school that was like Napoleon.”

Student Union Board president Talitha Fox, whose organization is working in conjunction with the Committee on Lectures to bring the two actors to Ames, thinks the event will be a fun way for students to relieve stress the week before finals.

“The movie was an absolute hit, and these were two really funny characters from it,” Fox says. “We thought [the lecture] would be a nice study break.”

Although the movie has mostly been embraced by a younger audience, people of any age can enjoy the film, O’Tool says.

“It’s marketed more toward [younger people] so they see it more,” she says.

“But I think older people could enjoy it, too.”

Pat Miller, program manager for the Committee on Lectures, says the committee always tries to look for something big to end the year’s lecture series, and inviting the two actors to speak was a natural choice.