Nacho Libre Review

"Nacho Libre" reviews

Movie

Nacho Libre

Author

anonymous

Date reviewed

2006-11-02 00:11:04

Rating

2.5/5

Provider

CinemaSource

Review

Hilarious hits outnumber miserable misses enough to give Nacho Libre the same replay value as Napoleon, but "dynamite" it is not.

Story

Ignacio (Jack Black) has never been particularly adept at anything, but he has great passion for the things that matter to him: cooking and wrestling. Growing up in a Mexican orphanage, 'Nacho' always dreamt of becoming a "luchador"--the term for a Mexican wrestler--and he even had the paunch to boot, but alas it was highly forbidden by the religious orphanage. Now grown up, he works as a chef for the only home he has ever known. He's subjected to constant criticism at the hands of monks for the slop he calls food, but claims he isn't paid enough for quality ingredients. So as he sees it, his only solution for more money is to pursue the forbidden fruit of becoming a luchador. He picks up a rail-thin peasant (Hector Jimenez) along the way to form a tag-team duo. Together, they're so horrendous that fans line up just for a laugh. But that makes them underdogs, and we all know the fate of underdog characters in movies.

Acting

Jack Black, maybe the best comedic actor of his extraordinarily gifted generation, is a sight to behold. In Nacho Libre, his mere pose, which invariably sees him showcasing his belly as if a trophy, is enough to arouse laughter. But once he opens his mouth, forget it! Nacho's broken English-and-Spanish dialect is tailor-made for Black, as is his character's penchant to break into Tenacious D-style song to profess his love for a nun (Ana de la Reguera). The problems with Black are due to his improper utilization at times (see "direction"), not his performance, which is about as flawlessly inane as verbal/physical comedy gets. He taps into mania with an ease that hasn't been seen since John Belushi. As Nacho's equally hopeless sidekick Esqueleto, Jimenez garners his fair share of laughs thanks mostly to the wrestling scenes. But his high-pitched yelps, forced ineptitude and blank expressions grow old quickly.

Direction

Director Jared Hess should've quit after his first feature, Napoleon Dynamite. Only because expectations for his follow-up, in this case Libre, simply cannot be met. That said, he doesn't only make sophomore mistakes; there is promise and talent on full display here. For instance, Hess again exhibits an ability to find and/or create the most outlandish characters, from the star all the way down to the unknown Mexican extras. But even at just over 90 minutes long, the film drags and seems like a hilarious skit stretched way too far. That's because although conceptually hilarious, the story (which Hess co-wrote with wife Jerusha and veteran Mike White) is as thin as Nacho is portly. And, as Hess has learned the hard way, with bigger budgets come bigger constraints, such as not-so-subtle humor (fart jokes, pratfalls) to appease the teen masses. Hess' fatal flaw, however, despite what will again be an underrated offbeat effort, was to not stray further from his trademark movie, thus keeping the animal that is Black caged--albeit in a large cage.

Bottom Line

Hollywood.com rated this film 2 1/2 stars.

Movie

Nacho Libre

Author

anonymous

Date reviewed

2006-08-10 00:00:00

Provider

MyMovies

Review

As with director Jarred Hess's first film "Napoleon Dynamite," the choice of comedy on display in "Nacho Libre" is something of an acquired taste. Armed with a bigger budget and a star name in the form of Jack Black, this lightweight family comedy could quite easily have been pushed by studio heads to fall into a more grotesque and marketable comedy. Instead "Nacho Libre" continues Hess's success at creating what is essentially a group of exaggerated characters operating within an unusual setting.

For all its merits, which include a superb Latin American soundtrack, simple but well crafted directing and a much favoured return to form from Jack Black, "Nacho Libre" cannot be commended for its skills in the plot development department. Sticking to a tried and tested formula, "Nacho Libre" is essentially an underdog's tale, who upon discovering a niche talent that promises him success - has to decide whether to compromise or even give up the values that he once held dear. But while the formula is tried and tested, Hess's character and setting allows the shallowness to be forgotten - his underdog is an orphaned slop cook and his talent is wrestling. He subsequently uses his skills in the ring to try and save his orphanage from closure.

At times "Nacho Libre" almost feels watered down in comparison to "Napoleon Dynamite" which comes as a surprise given the added resources at Hess's disposal. More than content with appealing to a family audience, Hess has played "Nacho Libre" to a slightly younger audience than his previous picture. Nevertheless in a summer that is filled with blockbusters, popcorn flicks and remakes it is encouraging to see the off beat "Nacho Libre" stand out as the best comedy of the season.

Movie

Nacho Libre

Author

anonymous

Date reviewed

2006-08-04 15:00:23

Provider

MRIB

Review

Jack Black has arguably taken over Jim Carey's mantle as the planet's most likable film comedian. His willingness to do anything for the sake of a joke has transformed lacklustre movies into almost great ones, but has he bitten off more than he can chew here?

Black plays Nacho, a tubby monk (a thin monk might have been a bit of stretch for his acting abilities) raised in the Mexican monastery where he now works as the cook. He dreams of becoming a star wrestler or luchado (fighter in Spanish), so dons a mask and spangly pants to compete in a local Lucha Libre tournament. He hopes to win the $200 prize money to not only gain respect but also buy more nutritious food for children he cooks for. When a new nun, Sister Encarnacion (Ana de la Reguera), arrives, Nacho falls in love and must try proving that wrestling isn't a sin.

Written and directed by Jared Hess (Napoleon Dynamite), Nacho Libre for all its vague attempts at satire and visual flair is effectively a one-gag film. The humour, most of which derives from Black's brilliant facial expressions and movement, is a tad juvenile. However, despite the relentless barrage of fart gags and wrestling gaffs there's an endearing quality to the movie. Essentially it's the tale of a clown who comes good but fortunately, as in School Of Rock, Jack doesn't sacrifice tomfoolery when he eventually finds Hollywood redemption.

Nacho Libre will undoubtedly divide public opinion. It may not be Jack's best cinematic moment but if you're feeling in a ridiculously silly mood, you'll go with the flow.

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