Nacho Libre
3 of 4 Stars (For Lovers of Napoleon Dynamite)
Rating: PG ( Nothing Offensive )
Starring: Jack Black, Hector Jimenez, Troy Gentile, Moises Arias, Lauro Chartrand
Directed by: Jared Hess
Produced by: Steven Nicolaides, Jack Black, Mike White
Jared Hess, the infamous Mormon who brought us Napoleon Dynamite, now brings us
“Nacho Libre,” inspired by his two year mission in Venezuela and by a childhood passion of
wresting “Lucha” style. Walking into this movie, I was thinking, “Good Lord, I have to watch
this movie. It’s going to be so stupid.” Walking out of this movie I thought the exact same
thing, but with a twist. For those of you who enjoyed Napoleon Dynamite, you will most likely
really enjoy this movie. It has the same director and writers. Napoleon Dynamite was
somewhat groundbreaking, in that the lame and pathetic humor was actually funny. Nacho
has the same feeling almost to a T.
You walk into this movie thinking it’s going to be dumb, and it totally is, but it also makes you
laugh just about the whole way through. The beginning is a bit boring and the humor takes
time to adjust to, but once you are settled into the Nacho mood the cheese really starts to
flow. You never get bored being grossed out by Jack Black’s belly, which they show
repeatedly just so you will laugh. You never tire of the moronic sidekick or of the completely
idiotic one liners delivered in Jack Black fashion.
When the movie was over, I actually thought “Gees, did I like it or was it way too lame?”
Well, I would have to say it was both. It was pathetically dumb AND I enjoyed it. It was the
perfect mix of clean humor and slapstick comedy with a spiritual subplot.
Nacho Libre is the story of an orphan boy who was raised by a priest in the local
orphanage. He was raised to become a priest himself and assigned to cooking and praying
after dead people (or are they). Deep down in Nacho’s innocent little heart, he has always
had a passion for fame and becoming a wrestler. Eventually he realizes that the orphanage
is running very low on food and he must figure out a way to help. He also realizes that he
can get paid, even if he loses. Meanwhile, Nacho falls madly in love with a nun that moves
into the orphanage to teach the children. He goes to hysterical lengths to show her how
much he loves her and how macho Nacho really is. Personally, after seeing how beautiful
newcomer Ana de la Reguera is, I can see why.
Nacho Libre is about understanding the source of strength (God), the realization of love and
the power of the belly. Nacho Libre is filled with so many family values that it was hard to
keep count. There is a scene where Nacho feels the need to baptize a sinner that will just
about make you fall out of your seat.
The most shocking part of the whole movie is that there is not even one bad word in the
whole movie! There are also no sexual references at all and the children respect authority.
This movie is flooded with family values and is a good romp for the whole family. It might be
the fact that Jared Hess is Mormon or it might be just that he truly knows how to make a
family movie, but kudos to Jared for making another great family film.
Parental Warning: Absolutely NONE
3 of 4 Stars
3 of 4 Stars (For Lovers of Napoleon Dynamite)
Rating: PG ( Nothing Offensive )
Starring: Jack Black, Hector Jimenez, Troy Gentile, Moises Arias, Lauro Chartrand
Directed by: Jared Hess
Produced by: Steven Nicolaides, Jack Black, Mike White
Jared Hess, the infamous Mormon who brought us Napoleon Dynamite, now brings us
“Nacho Libre,” inspired by his two year mission in Venezuela and by a childhood passion of
wresting “Lucha” style. Walking into this movie, I was thinking, “Good Lord, I have to watch
this movie. It’s going to be so stupid.” Walking out of this movie I thought the exact same
thing, but with a twist. For those of you who enjoyed Napoleon Dynamite, you will most likely
really enjoy this movie. It has the same director and writers. Napoleon Dynamite was
somewhat groundbreaking, in that the lame and pathetic humor was actually funny. Nacho
has the same feeling almost to a T.
You walk into this movie thinking it’s going to be dumb, and it totally is, but it also makes you
laugh just about the whole way through. The beginning is a bit boring and the humor takes
time to adjust to, but once you are settled into the Nacho mood the cheese really starts to
flow. You never get bored being grossed out by Jack Black’s belly, which they show
repeatedly just so you will laugh. You never tire of the moronic sidekick or of the completely
idiotic one liners delivered in Jack Black fashion.
When the movie was over, I actually thought “Gees, did I like it or was it way too lame?”
Well, I would have to say it was both. It was pathetically dumb AND I enjoyed it. It was the
perfect mix of clean humor and slapstick comedy with a spiritual subplot.
Nacho Libre is the story of an orphan boy who was raised by a priest in the local
orphanage. He was raised to become a priest himself and assigned to cooking and praying
after dead people (or are they). Deep down in Nacho’s innocent little heart, he has always
had a passion for fame and becoming a wrestler. Eventually he realizes that the orphanage
is running very low on food and he must figure out a way to help. He also realizes that he
can get paid, even if he loses. Meanwhile, Nacho falls madly in love with a nun that moves
into the orphanage to teach the children. He goes to hysterical lengths to show her how
much he loves her and how macho Nacho really is. Personally, after seeing how beautiful
newcomer Ana de la Reguera is, I can see why.
Nacho Libre is about understanding the source of strength (God), the realization of love and
the power of the belly. Nacho Libre is filled with so many family values that it was hard to
keep count. There is a scene where Nacho feels the need to baptize a sinner that will just
about make you fall out of your seat.
The most shocking part of the whole movie is that there is not even one bad word in the
whole movie! There are also no sexual references at all and the children respect authority.
This movie is flooded with family values and is a good romp for the whole family. It might be
the fact that Jared Hess is Mormon or it might be just that he truly knows how to make a
family movie, but kudos to Jared for making another great family film.
Parental Warning: Absolutely NONE
3 of 4 Stars
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