Nacho Libre (2006)

Average rating

(52%)

Starring:	Ana Dela Reguera \| Jack Black \| Hector Jiminez \| Peter Stormare
Director:	Jared Hess
Studio:	PARAMOUNT HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Run time:	92 mins
Genres:	Comedy
Languages:	English
Released:	December 04, 2006
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Celebrating the triumphs and tribulations of the lovable loser is no easy thing, but filmmaker Jared Hess seems to thrive in this specific cinematic exercise. Working fresh off the success of NAPOLEON DYNAMITE, Hess finds a similarly endearing hero-without-a-clue in Ignacio, played by Jack Black (HIGH FIDELITY, KING KONG), the title character in NACHO LIBRE. Ignacio, growing up in a poor monastery in Mexico, has dreamed of being a professional wrestler since childhood. This obsession has led him to a thankless adult existence as monastery whipping-boy and chef, serving stale, day-old nacho chips to finicky orphans. In an effort to earn the respect of new nun-hottie Sister Encarnacion (Ana De La Reguera) and escape the monastery into the greedy excess of pro wrestling, Ignacio enters a local amateur competition. Along the way, he picks up the notably scrawny yet tough street urchin Esqueleto (Hector Jimenez) as his tag-team partner. The duo hilariously loses badly and repeatedly to all manner of local wrestling oddities. It is only when Ignacio recognizes a higher goal than money and glory that he can truly compete with his professional idols, including the dreaded and evil champion Ramses. Co-written with Hess's writing partner and wife, Jerusha, and noted screenwriter Mike White (CHUCK & BUCK, THE GOOD GIRL), NACHO LIBRE is stocked with real-life wrestlers doing their thing. Jack Black's over-the-top physical humor blends in perfectly with repeated viewings of his 'stretchie pants' and timely flatulence. In concert, the elements fuse to distill a comedy that should appeal to all ages eager to be pinned down in a full-nelson by laughter.

Total Film

There's sweetness in the slapstick, while the director mines his missionary past to present a Mexico as eccentric and off-beat as the small-town America lovingly mocked in his first film

Highest rated reviews

32 out of 42 people found the following review helpful:

So Disapointing

AlexPhillips from from Aberystwyth, 5th March, 2007

I was so so disappointed with this movie. Being a huge fan of Jack Black I had such expectations of this film hoping for a return to the School of Rock form, after the dreadful King Kong. Alas it was not to be. Although Black does the best he can with the material provided, the script is is simply not funny and I can honesty say that I did not laugh at all and rarely did a slight smile graze my lips. The plot itself is fine. It is the simple do-gooder tail of making children happy and the achievement of personal dreams and goals. However one does have to wonder why anyone bothered to make it, since we have seen the same thing many times before. Also the acting is good enough for its purposes leaving you with the impression that it is Black alone which makes the movie watchable, since it's hard to imagine anyone else in that role. Putting it short, give this one a miss and watch School of Rock or High Fidelity once again.

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