He doesn’t have a ‘Napoleon’ complex

Hess, 30, tackled the strange world of Mexican wrestling in “Nacho Libre’’ (2006). Now he’s exploring the many oddities of science fiction in “Gentlemen Broncos,’’ which opened in Boston on Friday. The film features Jemaine Clement as Ronald Chevalier, a science fiction writer who steals a story about a bearded spaceman (Sam Rockwell) from a younger writer (Michael Angarano). Absurdities ensue.

Last month, Hess came to Boston to promote the film.

Q. This is your third major feature. Again we have the story of an underdog, and a very awkward protagonist.

A. My wife co-writes everything with me, we both moved around a whole lot growing up. I think the outsider trying to fit in and chase his dreams is kind of a theme that we’re really familiar with, you know? We like to see the underdog win. We like happy endings.

Q. You mentioned writing with your wife, and you’ve done that with all three of your major films. What’s that like?

A. I definitely slept on the couch a lot when we were writing “Napoleon.’’ But it’s good because each time that we write a script together our process gets a little more refined . . . and there’s less tears. We know each other very well, and how we work. But it’s great. By the time we’re done with a script we’re not sure who’s responsible for what, although I think she’d like to blame some of the more disturbing things on me.

Q. Do you have any specific influences, or is it something more from your life?

A. You know, it’s more life than anything. I feel like so much of the environments that I’ve grown up in have informed how I make films. There are a lot of documentaries, as well, that I just like the way that they’ve been photographed. “Gates of Heaven,’’ by Errol Morris, is one that I really love.

Q. So, could we ever expect to see a mockumentary from you, or an actual documentary?

A. I would love to do a doc that’s feature length on something at some point. I made little mini-documentaries in film school and growing up.

Q. Your films aren’t produced in a flashy style. Is that a conscious choice?

A. I like to shoot in real environments on location and populate our films with authentic faces and people. Those are just the people in real life that interest me. And I think, especially with the types of Hollywood television shows and other things, we’re trained to expect real done-up, larger-than-life people and personalities. And I guess I’m at the other end of the spectrum. I like to see a different type of people on the screen.

Q. “Gentlemen Broncos’’ is steeped in science fiction. Is that something that’s influenced you generally?

A. All my favorite movies growing up were science fiction films. I wanted to work as a special effects artist on some level, but I can’t draw. I’m not good at the computer. But for Christmas I’d get these “The Art of Special Effects’’ books and pore over them. All the special effects pioneers, man, those were the guys that I read about. So I experimented a lot with stop motion and making models and doing matte paintings. I’d get a piece of plexiglass and paint multiple moons on it, you know, and put it in front of the camera and have my brothers run underneath it, like the sky with laser guns. So my early experiments were all from being inspired by fantasy and science fiction.

Q. What was it like working with Jemaine Clement and Sam Rockwell?

A. I’ve been such a big fan of Jemaine’s work in “Flight of the Conchords,’’ as well as other things that he’s done. We sent him the script, but with TV people, their schedules are so busy. I’ve had my heart broken many times where I’ve wanted to work with somebody, and they’re just not available because they’re working in TV. He called back, and was like “Yeah, man, yeah, I’ll be whatever you want. You have somebody playing Bronco?’’ I’m like, yeah, dude, we got Sam Rockwell. “Ah, yeah, he’ll be great, man. Yeah, Chevalier, I’d love to do Chevalier.’’ It’s great to work with people that share a similar sense of humor, because it just makes the filmmaking process a lot more fun. . . . And with Sam Rockwell, the same thing.

Q. What do you think of Boston?

A. This is a charming city. Maybe everyone’s like, “What! What are you talking about?’’ But no, this place seems like the most warm, homey, and pretty. Less like aggressive or something, but maybe I’m not here during a big sports playoff season or something.