Nacho Libre: Review By jamesdickens

Jack Black is Nacho a man who was raised on a Mexican Monastery all of his life longing for something more. He longed for something that you won't find in scripture. Nacho wanted to become a famous wrestler named Nacho Libre!! As a kid he made up his own costume and ran around outside practicing wrestling moves. Nacho became the black sheep of the monastery and was relegated to cooking for the orphans and doing other unpleasant odd jobs.

One day Nacho reaches his tipping point and decides to pursue his lifelong dream. His first stop is to get a partner; he picks a homeless man named Esqueleto (Hector Jimenez) to join him on his quest. The two enter a local wrestling match for $200 and the legend of Nacho Libre and Esqueleto begins. As you can imagine the two make a hilarious team, Nacho is 5'5 and over 200lbs and Esqueleto is 6'0 and so thin you can almost see through him. Nacho and Esqueleto lose their first match and the $200 purse, but to their surprise they get paid anyway because the crowd loves them. At first Nacho becomes a wrestler for the money and the fame until he meets the beautiful Sister Encarnacion (Ana de la Reguera). She acts as Nacho's conscious letting him know that he should wrestle for something more than himself.

"Nacho Libre" is directed by Jared Hess who was also the man who helmed "Napoleon Dynamite". This film shares the same sense of humor as "Dynamite", you either find yourself laughing out loud or you will scratch your head wondering if you missed the joke. Jack Black looks like he's having the time of his life as Nacho, using every trick in the book to get you to laugh. This film is at its best during the wrestling scenes in which WWE fans will be able to recognize some trademark moves. "Nacho Libre" tends to slow down a bit when Nacho and Esqueleto are out of the ring, but fortunately we don't have to wait long until something funny happens.

Jack Black carries "Nacho Libre" on his back for the most part but he does have help. Hector Jimenez has a few hilarious moments as Nacho's sidekick Esqueleto. Ana de la Reguera who plays Sister Encarncion doesn't do much but look beautiful and provide moral support for Nacho. Too bad she wasn't allowed to get in on the fun. I hope you haven't watched the trailer for this film because it spoils a surprising amount of the funny scenes. The marketing people will have to find a way to entice moviegoers without spoiling movies, ok that's enough ranting. "Nacho Libre" will make you laugh out loud if you smell what Jack black is cooking.