That Tim League and I have been planning this event for at least a half year, kinda goes to show my level of anticipation. As most of you know – I saw an early cut of NAPOLEON DYNAMITE and had such a bad reaction that I just never saw the finished print. As a result – while I know tons of people that are a part of that cult of NAPOLEON DYNAMITE – and I’ve heard them preach it’s virtues as a film… But I just haven’t revisited it yet. When I hated on it, prior to its screening at SUNDANCE – I have to admit – it was absolutely captivating to watch – although I just felt that as a story, it just wasn’t working for me. The “stupid” humor just didn’t hit me right. I’m freely willing to admit that this was a fault of seeing the movie by myself without an audience, which always helps a comedy with its timing.
Why then was I so looking forward to NACHO LIBRE? I’m a huge Jack Black fan. And the idea of Jack playing a “guero” monk who moonlights as a Masked Wrestler… well, that’s kinda all I needed. There’s more than enough there for fun to be assured.
First – there was the crowd… well over a thousand… nearly two thousand in attendance. Nearly 30-40% wore Luchador Wrestling masks. Some in full costumes. There was a group of “business” luchadores in white shirts and ties… and the masks. There was a Hello Kitty female luchador.
The wrestling was hilarious… many of the animated moves that Jack and I are doing in the corner… including the patented midget face thrust – were actually seen in the ring. I shit you not. Fucking hilarious. About the time all the wrestlers showed up and went crazy – wandering into the audience beating one another… only to have masked audience wrestlers joining into the maddening chaos to fight. The midget grabbing a thong sandal from one patron to beat another wrestler and issue spankings to another.
This was blissful, maddening insanity. The wrestling… hilariously fake. Showmen performing for the audience’s vast satisfaction. The first two evil wrestlers one, then… then the one good midget wrestler triumphed… then the two evil wrestlers came to help their defeated short wrestler. Then those tall evil bastards went to work to defeat the little bit of good that triumphed. But when good was in danger of being stomped out of existence – the friends of good came and then violence escalated. It was a luchador meltdown. The ring was too small to hold this vast battle for good and evil. Wrestlers dressed as Satan and The Angel of Death… and Puerto Rico. I’m not joking. And Good, the power of Mexico and all the saints in heaven… fought – and the crowd fought, Puerto Rico was put upside down into garbage by a crowd that just would not allow Puerto Rico to humiliate Mexico.
Even Tim League was taken by Evil and beaten with boards – humiliated with his butt cheeks bared to the world. In the end… Good won the day. And there was much merriment. Much joy. Much celebration. Hundreds of gringo luchadores posed for photos.
Finally after all this – it came time for NACHO LIBRE… for the film. What level of non-stop hilarity would ensue? Well, that’s not what this movie is.
There is something missing from the ad campaign. The trailers and the commercial make the film out to be non-stop hilarity. But that isn’t what this film is. It is funny, but funny in an odd way. Funny like a raspberry on the cheek during a warm hug. In fact – in many ways this film is a warm hug of a film.
There’s no cynicism, no irony. The characters are innocents. People that are all broken in their way. All without the equipment that would allow them to exist a normal existence. They’re all hiding and staying insulated. And yet at peace with that. I know I’m talking like some metaphysical type – but these characters don’t feel like studio film characters. They seem to have never strived for an audience. They’re silly without thinking about the laughter they can’t see on the other side of their performances. They’re well meaning.
I was actually really shocked by how sweet this film was. Does it feel like a regular narrative film? No. It seems to have skipped logical scenes for ones that simply exhibit a bit of honesty about characters. Having said that – the audience cheered and laughed and had quite a bit of fun.
Jack Black’s performance was that of a little boy holding his grown up self accountable for a dream long repressed. In an odd way, this is Jack Black’s superhero film. It’s like Zorro’s Friar friend decided to be Zorro. It’s like Alfred became a superhero. And how is Nacho Libre not a superhero. By day he makes due with terrible ingredients for the orphans. By night – he fights and sacrifices his body and his honor for their greater comfort of living. It is Robin Hood – only he is not stealing, he’s punishing only himself for the greater good. Jack is very sweet in this role. At times – very funny, yet always very charming.
As wonderful as Jack is… Hector Jimenez’s Esqueleto is a scrawny god of skin and bone. His face is 75% teeth, 10% lips and the rest hair and eyes. He’s a starving muppet. Sinewy, squirrelly and just particular as all hell. He loves corn on the cob, he fears crazy fat women that want him, he believes in science, not God… and he’s a fucking loon. He is hilarious.
The rest of the film is made up of odd folks. Like Ana De La Reguera – she’s a hottie in this film in that… eat toast with ya sort of way. She has a smile that makes one shake. The kindest of eyes. Her character is a nun, but one that seems to flirt with “normal life” yet cherishes the life of being a nun. Pursued, yet never captured. Available, yet never taken. Not a tease mind you, but an inspiration and a dream.
I liked this film. It’s an odd one. And I can say you might react oddly to it. This is a film that feels artificial in the same way that really good people seem artificial at first. They care too much, they want to help too much. And they believe in hugs and kisses on a cheek instead of an American strong and earnest handshake. But then, this isn’t an American tale. This is Mexico and there… it isn’t here. Though Texas is damn close.
Go to NACHO LIBRE wanting good fun. This movie is a warm hug and smile. It is a good time.
Even Tim League was taken by Evil and beaten with boards – humiliated with his butt cheeks bared to the world. In the end… Good won the day. And there was much merriment. Much joy. Much celebration. Hundreds of gringo luchadores posed for photos.
Finally after all this – it came time for NACHO LIBRE… for the film. What level of non-stop hilarity would ensue? Well, that’s not what this movie is.
There is something missing from the ad campaign. The trailers and the commercial make the film out to be non-stop hilarity. But that isn’t what this film is. It is funny, but funny in an odd way. Funny like a raspberry on the cheek during a warm hug. In fact – in many ways this film is a warm hug of a film.
There’s no cynicism, no irony. The characters are innocents. People that are all broken in their way. All without the equipment that would allow them to exist a normal existence. They’re all hiding and staying insulated. And yet at peace with that. I know I’m talking like some metaphysical type – but these characters don’t feel like studio film characters. They seem to have never strived for an audience. They’re silly without thinking about the laughter they can’t see on the other side of their performances. They’re well meaning.
I was actually really shocked by how sweet this film was. Does it feel like a regular narrative film? No. It seems to have skipped logical scenes for ones that simply exhibit a bit of honesty about characters. Having said that – the audience cheered and laughed and had quite a bit of fun.
Jack Black’s performance was that of a little boy holding his grown up self accountable for a dream long repressed. In an odd way, this is Jack Black’s superhero film. It’s like Zorro’s Friar friend decided to be Zorro. It’s like Alfred became a superhero. And how is Nacho Libre not a superhero. By day he makes due with terrible ingredients for the orphans. By night – he fights and sacrifices his body and his honor for their greater comfort of living. It is Robin Hood – only he is not stealing, he’s punishing only himself for the greater good. Jack is very sweet in this role. At times – very funny, yet always very charming.
As wonderful as Jack is… Hector Jimenez’s Esqueleto is a scrawny god of skin and bone. His face is 75% teeth, 10% lips and the rest hair and eyes. He’s a starving muppet. Sinewy, squirrelly and just particular as all hell. He loves corn on the cob, he fears crazy fat women that want him, he believes in science, not God… and he’s a fucking loon. He is hilarious.
The rest of the film is made up of odd folks. Like Ana De La Reguera – she’s a hottie in this film in that… eat toast with ya sort of way. She has a smile that makes one shake. The kindest of eyes. Her character is a nun, but one that seems to flirt with “normal life” yet cherishes the life of being a nun. Pursued, yet never captured. Available, yet never taken. Not a tease mind you, but an inspiration and a dream.
I liked this film. It’s an odd one. And I can say you might react oddly to it. This is a film that feels artificial in the same way that really good people seem artificial at first. They care too much, they want to help too much. And they believe in hugs and kisses on a cheek instead of an American strong and earnest handshake. But then, this isn’t an American tale. This is Mexico and there… it isn’t here. Though Texas is damn close.
Go to NACHO LIBRE wanting good fun. This movie is a warm hug and smile. It is a good time.
