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Nacho Libre
Movie Stats & Links |
| Starring: |
Jack Black |
| MPAA Rated: |
PG |
| Released By: |
Paramount Pictures |
| Web Site: |
www.nacholibre.com |
| Kiddie Movie: |
It's meant for
them, being rated PG and all, but they just might think
Nacho looks funny in his stretchy pants. |
| Date Movie: |
This is really
probably better for Dad and his boy. |
| Gratuitous Sex: |
Hinted but nothing
the kids would understand. |
| Gratuitous
Violence: |
Wrestling type. |
| Action: |
Ehh. |
| Laughs: |
There's a lot of
dry humor. |
| Memorable
Scene: |
I loved the scene
where Nacho was "flying" at Ramses. |
| Memorable
Quote: |
Nacho: "I used my
hand to wipe my tears." It makes more sense in the
movie. |
| Directed By: |
Jared Hess |
| Produced By: |
Jack Black, David Klawans, Julia Pistor, Mike White |
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Nacho Libre
A Movie Review |
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I think I might just crush one of our staff member’s
world right here when I finally admit to him that I have
never watched "Napoleon Dynamite." There, I’ve said it,
"Stu, I’ve never watched ‘Napoleon Dynamite.’" Whew, that
feels good to get it off my chest. Don’t get me wrong, I
laugh at pretty much every Napoleon quote I hear, and can
even do an impression, but I have never watched the movie.
What the hell does that have to do with a review of "Nacho
Libre?" Well, it’s because Jared Hess directed and helped
write both "Napoleon Dynamite" and "Nacho Libre," so pretty
much they roll off the tongue in a similar vein. At least I
guess so, because, well, I do know that Napoleon had a goofy
sidekick named Pedro, and for "Nacho Libre," Nacho has a
goofy sidekick, this time being Esqueleto. Enough of my
truthful liberation, let’s get to the movie…
For "Nacho Libre" we get Jack Black playing Nacho. He’s a
friar in a monastery, but he’s not happy. First he’s stuck
with the crappiest of jobs, trying to make a decent meal for
the orphans out of slop. Second he wishes he could be a
wrestler. And third, he’s sort of wondering about the whole
"vow of celibacy" thing. This really comes into play when
Sister Encarnación (Ana de la Reguera) shows up to help
teach the children. But one night Nacho runs into Esqueleto
(Héctor Jiménez), trying to steal the broken tortilla chips
saved for the orphans. In a weird twist of fate Nacho finds
himself with Esqueleto in the Mexican wrestling circuit
where they find they get paid even if they lose, and now
Nacho has a mission: Help the kids but still buy cool
clothes for him. But the good Sister hates wrestling; Nacho
wants to really be the champion, and the wrestler Ramses
(Cesar Gonzalez) stands in his way. Nacho has some soul
searching to do, the orphans are looking for a hero, and I’m
thinking at times the good Sister is sometimes questioning
her vow of celibacy as well. All of this is supposed to make
for a good time of fun, and at times it does, but for a lot
of other times, it didn’t. At least for me.
I have to say this, when I heard that this movie was from
the folks that brought us "Napoleon Dynamite," and the
writer of "School of Rock," maybe I just got my expectations
too high. You see, I appreciated the dry humor I had heard
with Napoleon, but loved the story of the kids in
"School of
Rock." I think the underlying problem I ended up having with
"Nacho Libre" was this movie was pretty much all Nacho and
Esqueleto, and not so much the kids. And I think that was
too bad. I suppose I should try to explain. Hmm? Let’s put
it this way – in "School of Rock" we were rooting for a
group of way-talented kids. In "Nacho Libre" we are supposed
to be rooting for a dude in stretchy pants. For a PG movie,
aimed supposedly at kids, I want more kids.
Look, this review is all over the place because I really
don’t know where to dictate my likes and dislikes with this
movie. Jack Black always makes me laugh, and when he did his
"flying" scene during the final wrestling match, I was
laughing my ass off. The problem was that for the most part
I didn’t care because it was really just Nacho and Esqueleto
getting beat up. Wait a minute, I think I just had my
epiphany as to what I was really looking for in this film.
Fine, give me Jack Black and Héctor Jiménez with the
Napoleon and Pedro humor. But you know what, let the orphans
be the key. In "School of Rock" Dewey sculpted the kids in a
covert kind of way. In "Nacho Libre" I think it would have
been more fun if the orphans were the sculptors, in the same
covert kind of way. Let them take charge: One of them
designs Nacho and Esqueleto’s costumes, one of them handles
getting them booked in the matches, some of them help with
their physical training, and one of them happens to be a
ringer, remembering glimpses of his father as a great
wrestler before his father died, and being able to teach
these moves to Nacho, especially just in time for the big
match.
Look, I know the film folks tried to keep to the story of
the Mexican wrestlers, but for me, I enjoyed it but couldn’t
really relate. I would have really liked the orphans to be
more involved.
I suppose I’ll let this movie go at this… If you are a
fan of "Napoleon Dynamite" humor, and Jared Hess, you will
probably love this movie. I could see his fans in the
theater enjoying every bit. If you are looking for a "School
of Rock" kind of movie, this definitely isn’t it, because
the kids don’t have much involvement. Because of this I have
to give the movie 2 ½ stars out of 5. I understand the
aspect of trying to portray the "Mexican Wrestler" story,
but would have liked a little more "School of Rock"
incorporated into it. I will say this, though, that I, like
Nacho, am now in love with a Nun.
That’s it for this one! I’m The Dude on the Right!!
L8R!!! |
