Nacho Libre
(2006) dir. Jared Hess
viewed: 10/28/06
This is a pretty cute comedy that almost lives up to its appealling movie posters featuring Jack Black as a sad sack wannabe “luchador” latino wrestler. This is writer/director Jared Hess’ 2nd feature, a follow-up to his teen cult film Napoleon Dynamite (2004), which I thought was okay but largely over-rated. I think it does say something about this film that I actually found it amusing since I find most comedies to be pretty awful.
Jack Black is best when he’s deeper “in character” here, speaking with his Mexican accent and actually playing a character that is other than himself. He, of course, breaks character at times with verbal expressions and ultimately breaking into song more than once that just are basically his stock in trade moments. I think he’s a funny guy, but those moments are tired and could have come from any place in his repertoire. He really has some nice sweet and funny sequences as Nacho. It works.
The other character that is quite good is Esquelito, his tall, skinny, slack-jawed compadre in wrestling. Hess seems to like these types of odd friendships between outsiders and their stilted but genuine friendships. The character of Pedro (who inspired those t-shirts) from Napoleon Dynamite is a similar parallel.
Ultimately, it’s cute and entertaining, which is more than I expected of it.
