Nacho Libre (2006)

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Written by Jared Hess, Jerusha Hess

Directed by Jared Hess

Running Time: 89 minutes (approx)

Production Year: 2006

Rating: 12 Certificate

Production Country: USA

Filmed in Colour

An extremely silly movie, this Mexican wrestling comedy from 2006 sees Jack Black (pictured) trying to give a more subtle, less physical performance after School of Rock and Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny.

Sadly it doesn't always work. Although it's a pleasant, sometimes endearing 88 minutes, there's quite a lot of ho-hum in between the occasional laughs. Black plays Nacho, a downtrodden chef at the Mexican orphanage where he grew up. Cheesed off at not being able to serve up anything that appeals to the growing kids, he devises a plan to become a "luchador" - a wrestler. Enlisting the emaciated Esqueleto the Skeleton (Héctor Jiménez), Black squeezes himself into some spandex in a bid to win cash for the orphans.

This bizarre turn of events does produce the film's finest line, as Black prances about in his quarters, trying on his colourful attire. "When you are a man," Nacho tells one of the orphans, "sometimes you wear stretchy pants in your room. It's for fun."

Things hot up considerably when a new nun - Sister Encarnacion (Latin American soapstar Ana de la Reguera) - arrives at the monastery. Nacho tries to win her love, by offering her (of all things) some toast in his quarters. Bad idea.

While the film has its moments - this is Mexican wrestling with a portly actor tackling some rather bonkers opponents in the ring - it's not a classic, but is fine for the kids. Jared Hess, who directed Napoleon Dynamite, fails to produce consistent laughs and the film's potential is never properly fulfilled. Shame really.

Cast

Image for Jack BlackJack BlackNacho
Image for Ana de la RegueraAna de la RegueraSister Encarnación
Image for Héctor JiménezHéctor JiménezEsqueleto
Darius RoseChancho
Moises AriasJuan Pablo
Carlos MaycotteSegundo Nuñez
Richard MontoyaGuillermo
Cesar GonzalezRamses
Rafael MontalvoElderly Monk
Julio SandovalSnaggle Tooth Monk
Ventura 'Tigre Hispano' LahozArena Referee
Felipe Jesus 'Terror Chino' HernandezArena Referee
Enrique MuñozSeñor Ramon
Carla JimenezCandidia
Agustin 'Rigo' ReyGalindo
Ricardo 'Caballero de la Muerte' CastilloGalindo
Troy GentileYoung Nacho
Donald ChambersSilencio
Julio EscaleroRamses Trainer
Image for Peter StormarePeter StormareEmperor
Armando 'Mucha Crema' GaytanPro Announcer
Rafael Gonzalez LopezPro Referee
Antonio Salazar GomezRing Announcer
Albert M. MadridParadise
Lauro ChartrandSage
Filiberto EstrellaDuende
Gerson Virgen LopezDuende
Leobardo MagadanCommentator
Jorge Valdés GarcíaCommentator
Craig WilliamsEl Snowflake
Brett ChanDynasty
Mike ChingEl Chino
Abelardo 'El Pandita' HernandezMuñeco
Emiliano 'Dalia Negra' QuirogaCarlos Rosales
Luis Garcia RendonMariachi Man
Armando TapiaMonk
Carlos Cesar CaballeroMonk
Feliciano Ramos MendozaAmateur Announcer
Carlos 'El Mimo' Acosta BarrosoEl Pony
Ignacio 'Iñaqui Goci' Gonzalez CamarenaEl Semental
Alfonso RamírezAmateur Referee
Miguel Angel Bonequi TrujilloHacienda Tough Doorman
Aaron Yamir Ramirez EsobarYoung Street Kid
Rodolfo Garcia MerinoMotivational Coach
María GonzálezPeasant Woman
René CamperoWrestling Official
Lisa OwenNacho's Mother
Cristóbal PuenteNacho's Father
Zenaido AvendañoUsher
Rosenda HernandezWoman
Joaquin Luis JimenezAshen Faced Man
Ismael Garcia y Su TrioMariachi Band
Dominick Kurek

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