A lot of this comes as a result of Jack Black starring in the title role. You can always recognize a good actor by his or her ability to become someone else. Joaquin Phoenix became Johnny Cash in Walk The Line. Meryl Streep becomes Yolanda Johnson in A Prairie Home Companion. Adam Sandler became the spawn of the devil in Little Nicky. The only thing Jack Black becomes in Nacho Libre is a slightly more irritating Jack Black. Developing a Hispanic accent doesn’t exactly relieve an actor from doing the other work required to bring a character to life.
Yet, blaming the entire catastrophe on Black would be completely unfair. The writing and plot of Nacho Libre are also at fault. As I’ve stated, Black stars as Nacho, a friar who has always dreamed of becoming a luchador (wrestler). Unfortunately for him, his religion prohibits one from even watching the wrestling matches let alone partaking in them. Nacho’s duties to an orphanage include preparing the meals and taking care of those who pass away but he aspires to make a difference for the children. This ambition leads him to find a worthy tag-team partner and participate in his very first wrestling match.
Nacho and his partner are not very good, though. Even after much training, the duo is easily defeated in the ring. However, the audience likes them and so they receive a cash reward just for trying. Nacho uses the money to buy the children a decent meal for once. The leftover cash is used to supply he and his partner with costumes for their next match. They lose time and time again and begin making enough money to enjoy a taste of the good life (which apparently includes corn on a stick). On the other hand, since they always lose they receive no respect therefore Nacho hatches a plan to fight the greatest luchador of all… Ramon.
The music in the flick is unique and there are a few things that remind us of what made Napoleon Dynamite a hit (unusual items like that corn on a stick, a date over toast and a very peculiar motorcycle). Still, the atmosphere of a movie does not add up to much when the story stinks, the screenplay lacks funny jokes and the leading man is a joke himself. No matter how much you liked or disliked Napoleon Dynamite, there is just no way you’ll want to sit through this terrible feature film. Even kids, which Nacho Libre is aimed toward (it’s a Nickelodeon motion picture), will be utterly bored with this material.
Ultimately, Nacho Libre is a one-joke flick. This guy with a heart of gold doesn’t have the brains or brawn to make it in the luchador world. Watching him get pummeled over and over can hardly be considered entertainment. You probably won’t laugh at all while watching Nacho Libre and you likely won’t even smile more than a few times. Even a crippled attempt at a romantic subplot between Nacho and a beautiful nun can’t salvage this train wreck.
If your friends ask you to go see Nacho Libre with them, it’s best just to say adios.
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