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Nacho Libre (2006)
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Reviews Counted:159
Fresh:62
Rotten:97
Average Rating:5/10
Consensus: At times hilarious, but other times offensive, Director Jared Hess is unable to recapture the collective charisma of his Napoleon characters, instead relying on a one-joke concept that runs out of steam. Sure to entertain the adolescents, however.
Runtime: 1 hr 40 mins
Genre: Comedies
US Box Office: $80,197,993
Synopsis: Celebrating the triumphs and tribulations of the lovable loser is no easy thing, but filmmaker Jared Hess seems to thrive in this specific cinematic exercise. Working fresh off the success of... Celebrating the triumphs and tribulations of the lovable loser is no easy thing, but filmmaker Jared Hess seems to thrive in this specific cinematic exercise. Working fresh off the success of NAPOLEON DYNAMITE, Hess finds a similarly endearing hero-without-a-clue in Ignacio, played by Jack Black (HIGH FIDELITY, KING KONG), the title character in NACHO LIBRE. Ignacio, growing up in a poor monastery in Mexico, has dreamed of being a professional wrestler since childhood. This obsession has led him to a thankless adult existence as monastery whipping-boy and chef, serving stale, day-old nacho chips to finicky orphans. In an effort to earn the respect of new nun-hottie Sister Encarnacion (Ana De La Reguera) and escape the monastery into the greedy excess of pro wrestling, Ignacio enters a local amateur competition. Along the way, he picks up the notably scrawny yet tough street urchin Esqueleto (Hector Jimenez) as his tag-team partner. The duo hilariously loses badly and repeatedly to all manner of local wrestling oddities. It is only when Ignacio recognizes a higher goal than money and glory that he can truly compete with his professional idols, including the dreaded and evil champion Ramses. Co-written with Hess's writing partner and wife, Jerusha, and noted screenwriter Mike White (CHUCK & BUCK, SCHOOL OF ROCK), NACHO LIBRE is stocked with real-life wrestlers doing their thing. Jack Black's over-the-top physical humor blends in perfectly with repeated viewings of his "stretchie pants" and timely flatulence. In concert, the elements fuse to distill a comedy that should appeal to all ages eager to be pinned down in a full-nelson by laughter. [More]
Starring: Jack Black, Ana DeLa Reguera, Hector Jiminez, Peter Stormare
Starring: Jack Black, Ana DeLa Reguera, Hector Jiminez, Peter Stormare, Darius Rose
Director: Jared Hess
Director: Jared Hess
Screenwriter: Mike White, Jerusha Hess
Producer: Mike White, Jack Black
Composer: Danny Elfman
Studio: Paramount Pictures
Reviews for Nacho Libre
Jared Hess's far too self consciously campy comedy that takes a one-note joke and beats that dead horse until it's a fine paste splayed all over the ground
It's more outrageous than hilarious, yet Nacho Libre has the same kind of sweet poignancy its filmmaker Jared Hess brought to his 2004 cult hit Napoleon Dynamite.
We love pratfalls and physical humor, but Libre isn't a comedy vehicle. It just sits there, making you wish Pedro or Uncle Rico would blast into the scene and make something happen. Tragically, they don't.
Nacho's processed cheese and tortilla-thin premise are purely a refried conduit for Black... [it] would be inexcusably trashy if it weren't for the naïve sincerity of its star.
A spongy guy in a clingy suit who has a spongy hairdo is funny, to a point, and kudos to Black for the self-deprecation. Kudos as well for his athleticism and balletic grace as he leaps around the ring. Unfortunately, they can't support a movie.
there was not enough alcohol or any other conscious-altering substance out there to make this flick bearable
The film has so much pointless off-color humor, it makes the movie blend right in with every other cornball comedy.
Jack Black's physical humor, poses and grimaces are showcased to the max in 'Nacho Libre,' and almost everything pays off.
Nacho Libre serves as further evidence to the theory that people will laugh at anything as long as they expect to.
(W)hile it doesn't have Napoleon Dynamite's wealth of quotable dialogue, (Nacho Libre,) does contain enough clever moments to warrant a real recommendation.
The only gag here, as far as I can tell, is Black squeezing himself into a pair of red tights and prancing around like a mental patient. Funny yes, but over the course of an hour and a half, it wears a wee thin.
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