Nacho Libre (2006) Movie Information:

Nacho Libre (2006) Directed by: Jared Hess Nacho Libre (2006) Written by: Jared Hess, Jerusha Hess, Mike White Nacho Libre (2006) Cast: Jack Black, Héctor Jimenez, Richard Montoya, Ana de la Reguera, Peter Stormare

Nacho Libre (2006) U.S. Distributor: Paramount Pictures Nacho Libre (2006) U.K. Distributor: UIP

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Nacho Libre (2006) Synopsis:

Jack Black stars as Ignacio (friends call him Nacho), a Mexican priest who moonlights as a lucha libre wrestler to raise money for his orphanage in this comedy from the creators of “Napoleon Dynamite” and the writer and star of “The School of Rock.”

Nacho Libre (2006) Movie Review:

Ignacio (Black) is a man who dreams of becoming a luchador but as the cook in a monastery he can’t even think about wrestling, as it is a sin. As the orphans continue to ask for better food, Ignacio decides that he must do something to raise money for them. After meeting local bum (Jiménez), he decides to create a wrestling tag team that will take on all the local luchadors. For he is now Nacho and with God on his side, he will win.

When the writers of ‘Napoleon Dynamite’ and ‘School of Rock’ come together to produce a new movie, comedy fans should rejoice but will they be fighting for laughs?

Writer/director Jared Hess, his writing brother Jerusha Hess and actor/writer Mike White combine to write a comedy for cult actor Jack Black but instead of taking the normal romantic comedy or zany American comedy route, they head South of the border into Mexico and the world of the luchador. Mixing one of American best comedic actors and Mexican wrestling could be seen as a stroke of genius and for much part it is but the film suffers from a common complaint for most comedy films, most of the best gags are given away in the trailer.

The film is very much in the same comedic mould as ‘Napoleon Dynamite’. The humour is very lethargic and laid back, with the odd injection of slapstick thrown in for good measure. It could even be classed as pretty basic in parts but the film really hits comedy gold when it comes to portraying the wrestling. The bouts are brilliantly staged and even more realistic than anything that the WWE but all the realism aside, this is pure slapstick comedy at its very best. Just watch Nacho and Esqueleto take on the beast wrestlers and you will be laughing out loud. The training sequences are also extremely funny but it is the in between moments that are not as humorous as they could have been. Where these ‘quiet’ moments in ‘Napoleon Dynamite’ where quirky because of the geekiness of the characters but Jack Black is a little cooler than Jon Heder character and it is hard to believe that he would lack confidence or feel awkward.

The character of Nacho, a friar who dreams of being a luchador is a great character for Jack Black to play. Already on his way to becoming a cult comedic actor and musician with his rock band Tenacious D, Jack Black has also stepped into mainstream Hollywood with roles in blockbusters like ‘King Kong’ but it is in his leading performances that he gets the chance to excel. As he did in ‘School of Rock’, Jack Black throws himself into the character of Nacho and creates someone who is instantly likeable and extremely funny. Never afraid of taking his shirt off, Black excels in the fight scenes loving every moment of Nacho’s time in the ring and then brings his usual manic style to Ignacio outside of the ring. This highlights again that Jack Black is one of the best comedic actors working in Hollywood today.

Supporting the leading man are performances from two of Mexico best up and coming actors. Héctor Jiménez plays Esqueleto, the homeless bum who becomes Nacho’s wrestling tag team partner. He is an excellent foil to Jack Black’s Nacho, as he is the complete opposite, an extremely skinny man who believes in science and not God. The extremely beautiful Ana de la Reguera plays Sister Encarnación, Nacho’s conscience and the Nun who drives him to focus on doing good and not falling into the trap of fame and money.

‘Nacho Libre’ might not be as quirkily funny as ‘Napoleon Dynamite’ or as commercially amusing as ‘School of Rock’ but it is nicely in between. The wrestling scenes are hilarious and the cast really have fun with their roles but while the quite moments may not be as funny as they could have been, the film is still destined to become a bit of a cult classic.

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Nacho Libre (2006) review written by: Jamie Kelwick