Billy Bob Thornton and Jon Heder star in School for Scoundrels.

HOLLYWOOD -- Idiot! Or is he? That was what director Todd Phillips wanted to know before he cast Jon Heder opposite Billy Bob Thornton in School for Scoundrels.

Heder had skyrocketed to unlikely stardom as the titular social outcast in Napoleon Dynamite, the ode to all things nerd that exploded into a pop-culture phenomenon in 2004.

But Phillips wasn't sure how much of Napoleon was actually Heder and vice-versa.

"I didn't know anything about him. Maybe that's what he's really like. But I said if he's not that guy, then we have to cast him because I thought Napoleon Dynamite was the best comic performance I had seen in five years."

And one that had spawned a cottage industry of memorabilia (yes, there's a Napoleon action figure) and catch-phrases. (Among them: "I caught you a delicious bass," and the aforementioned, indelible "Idiot!") And what did Phillips discover? "In person, he's the coolest guy -- no, I'm kidding. He grew up with a bunch of brothers, you get that sense. But he's not the king of the geeks."

For most actors, the prospect of being typecast -- never mind, being typecast as the king of the geeks -- is about as inviting as a lifetime of wedgies. But ask Heder, who in person is only about 10% Napoleon, about this and he doesn't seem terribly concerned that his obituary might one day lead off with "Gosh!"

"I enjoy playing people who are a little bit socially weird and are struggling to be cool, but they're not cool. I like different characters and if each of these characters just happens to be a dweeb or a loser, I don't really care. I'd like to do some dramatic roles. But then maybe there's a dramatic role where you play a guy with problems."

At the very least, Heder's affinity for geekdom was a perfect match for Scoundrels.

In the movie, opening Friday, he stars as Roger, a meek metre maid who enrolls in a class for wimps who want to be men.

Thornton, once more riffing on his Bad Santa persona, stars as Dr. P, the self-help guru who goes from being Roger's instructor to his rival for the affections of a girl (Jacinda Barrett).

Was he star struck working with the Oscar-winning actor? "He's friendly, but there is a bit of intimidation because he is so cool -- he's got tattoos."

For Heder, the role is a self-admitted baby step forward.

"It was fun to finally play a character who's an everyman, but he's still pretty pathetic. I got reminded of that for the first time yesterday when I saw the movie. I thought, 'Boy, he really is pathetic.' "

In off-screen life, Heder's life is anything but. The actor, who hails from Utah, recently announced he and his wife are expecting their first child.

Ask how success has changed their lives and Heder shrugs, saying they just bought a new house in L.A., but that's about it. His family, he says, "help me get away from (Hollywood) and keep me down to earth."

As do the fans who, wherever he goes, remind him of the role he may always be identified with. "When I was making this movie in New York, I was surprised by how many times I got 'Napoleon!' Or 'Idiot!' Or 'Gosh!' It's so weird, when I was making (Napoleon Dynamite), I wanted those to be the quotable lines and now I'm like, 'Shut up!' No, it's great people took to it. It was exactly what we wanted."

(Less wanted? Some of the fan mail he receives: "The weirdest, creepiest fan mail is from guys. Girls, I can understand. But guys telling you that they love you? That's weird.")

Despite this, though, Heder doesn't rule out the possibility of a sequel. "Yeah, I'd do that if it was the same people involved. If Jared Hess wrote and directed it again, I'd do it. I loved making the movie."

Before that, he'll be seen in the comedy Blades of Glory next spring. In that movie, he stars with Will Ferrell. The two play male figure skaters who are bitter rivals until they're both banned from competing. Their only way back on the ice is a never-used loophole: there's no rule against two men skating together. "We just wrapped it. It was a long, long process."

Made all the longer when Heder broke his ankle during training.

"I was trying to spin and the blade caught the ice and the rest of me kept spinning. But it should be a pretty good movie. Will is the nicest guy. He's really easy to get along with."

As have been, he says, the actresses he's had to share romantic scenes with. "I get intimidated by pretty women, sure. But they've all been great, the women I've worked with."

Not that he knows what the final result looks like. "I can't watch it. I'm sure it looks great, but I'll never know."

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