Ok I dont usually check my guestbook on here, so if someone needs to ask my anything at all, could t...
Ok I dont usually check my guestbook on here, so if someone needs to ask my anything at all, could they please e-mail me, penypicker@gmail.com TY :-)
Member since:20.06.2006
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Been meaning to watch this for ages and realising I'm home alone, ill and need some cheering up this should work brilliantly. Nacho Libre was released in 2006 with Jack Black as the star of a wrestling themed religious comedy that was loosely based on the life of a real life reverend in Mexico. Directed by and written by the Hess Brothers (Napoleon Dynamite) the movie featured a pretty highly rated set of comedy personal (which also included Mike White or School Rock fame) as well as the backing cast of a lot of Mexican actors and actresses.
The film, based in Mexico starts off at the orphanage where Nacho (Black) plays a lowly priest and has the role of cooking for the children. Sadly however with their being no money the children get given some disgusting gloop for their meals. When a new nun comes to the orphanage Nacho starts to feel even more worthless and at the chance sighting of a Libre Wrestle and the respect they get a childhood dream
comes back to him and he decides to give it a go. After being paid he gets food for the children, he gets them salads and vegetables, a huge step up from the grey gunge of the previous meals.
Sadly for Nacho though, wrestling is against the religion and so not only does Nacho need to wear a mask, but he also needs to hide it from everyone, including the nun, Sister Encarnación (played by Ana de la Reguera) who Nacho finds himself captivated by. As the kids look up to Nacho and as the losses add up, he tries to to befriend the main guy Ramses (for his training), first by getting an autograph for the kids, in which Ramses proves to be a bit of a bad guy pushing Nacho (dressed as a priest) down in front of the children.
With his friend Esqueleto (Hector Jimenez) playing his tag team partner and after a series of losses, the two who have brilliant comedy chemistry and work out side of the ring just seem to get embarrassed in the ring. The luchadores (Mexican wrestlers) they face are just too good, too fast and too skilful, though the fights will make the wrestling fans smile as they see familiar moves thrown in on a regular basis (including hurricanranas, Surfboard Stretches, a moonsault and the 619...by a midget).
As the story progresses to much slapstick comedy with a light hearted and easy feel to it, and a feel good theme as Nacho fights for the children despite the fact that he knows it's not allowed. The religious background making it a sin and forbidden, the tale of a forbidden hobby and a forbidden lust add much to the story. Though the comedy is what the movie is based upon and with things like nipple twists mid match this is where Jack Black is at his prime, the silly comedy.
Much like the comedy of the movie the music is equally brilliant, not something I usually notice in movies, this excellent, often sharing the emotion of that part of the movie wonderfully precisely. Often with quite a fun feel to it all but when needed it can be soft and delicate and when Jack Black is singing the expected laughs are there to see.
The twist around midway is where the feel good of the movie comes back in a big way, the fighting for redemption feel is almost Rocky-esque as the collision of wrestling, dreams and comedy all find their way to a brilliant movie. Despite the fact I've waited 3 years to watch this and felt like complete crap at the start I've giggled through and the wrestling fan in me has been engaged just as much as the comedy fan. This alone shows what a brilliant movie it is.
Overall a movie well worth a watch, despite the childishness and definite wrestling theme even non-wrestling fan will be hooked by the comedic brilliance of Black who carries the movie on his shoulders. Sadly this means many of the other parts are a bit under-developed and under used, it was always going to Blacks movie so it's hard to criticise the fact he does dominate it. For those unwilling to to giggle at slapstick comedy and have a bit of fun this isn't for you, though to be honest, isn't everyone looking for a cheap giggle or two, especially when they have they have a cold. Sure the story line wasn't anything too difficult, or the comedy of the highest order, but it was fun, easy and simple, just like me.
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Nacho (Jack Black) is a man without skills. After growing up in a Mexican monastery, he is ... more
now a grown man and the monastery's cook, but doesn't seem to fit in. Nacho cares deeply for the orphans he feeds, but his food is terrible - mostly, if you ask ...
Advantages: funny performances and jack black setting fire to his robe if that is an advantage? Disadvantages: rather dull story line and quick tacky humour?
doolan666 07.06.2009 ·
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Review of Nacho Libre (DVD)