So why haven’t I written about NACHO LIBRE?
After all, as Lucky McKee said, it’s the perfect movie for me: NAPOLEON DYNAMITE director plus wrestling.
Here’s the thing: I can’t think of anything to say about it beyond the thuddingly obvious: It is NAPOLEON DYNAMITE all over again, with Lucha Libre in place of sweet dance moves. There’s an outcast hero who’s kind of a loser even when he wins, an out-of-it Mexican sidekick, a big competition at the end against a popular favorite, a pretty sweet bike that our hero takes a painful pratfull off of, a fetishized snack food (street-vended corn on the cob instead of Tater Tots) a chaste love interest, a laid back score, an unpleasant older colleague with a bad hairdo…and most importantly, the entire tone of the movie is the same, with everyone appearing to be in a slight daze, not from drugs, but rather like they perceive the world as if it were underwater.
So I liked the movie, but I would like it more if NAPOLEON DYNAMITE didn’t exist to show how much the same it is. Jack Black, who plays our hero Ignacio (NOT “Nacho,” as some inattentive critics have written – that’s his lucha alias only), has a totally different vibe from Jon Heder, which is what makes things different, and his Latin accent is hilarious, occasionally sounding like a perfect doppelganger of Antonio Banderas.
One thing to note about the wrestling matches — we seldom see them end. There’s fighting, one side becomes dominant (most are tag team bouts), and then…we go back to the locker room to see the pissed-off losers. But why no pinfall or submission? I don’t think that’s too much of an anal wrestling-fan question. If anyone cares, the matches are portrayed as legit competition, though several familiar WWE moves, notably Rey Mysterio’s 619, get utilized. Various luchadores play supporting roles, most notably former WCW mid-carder Silver King as the arch-villain.
I think kids will like it. And it’s even kinda Christian, though they only mention God and not specifically Christ, which may upset the gang at Movieguide who took points off BRUCE ALMIGHTY for that.
Oh, and if the main theme song, “Real Religious Man,” by someone named Mr. Loco, doesn’t get the Oscar for best original song, it will prove either that the song isn’t as original as it seems, or that people are stupid. Either way, I suggest Mr. Loco’s people shoot a video for the thing, like, yesterday.
Well, yeah. I see whacha mean.
Personally, it had me at ‘Sometimes, you were stretchy pants. Just for fun.’
I can’t stop laughing about the “I like your clothes. They look expensive.” sequence they had in the trailer.
But the big question, Mr. LYT, is — Can we take the Boo without scarring her poor little impressionable mind? Because she really, really wants to see it, since Jack Black is now her favorite comedian since he did the Nick awards show a few months ago, or so she says every time she sees an ad for the movie.
I would have no reservations showing it to Adam.
The only thing potentially frightening is a tag team of midgets who literally have horns and fangs. If she’s seen those in the trailer and is okay with it, there’s nothing else too problematic beyond some mild profanities like “douchebag.” Director Hess is a religious Mormon, remember.
I suppose she might try to copy wrestling moves in the pool…
LOL…
Since I have not seen “Napoleon Dynamite” (well. I did see the Hess’ short b/w film on a Slamdance DVD), “Nacho Libre” will probably be fresh for me.
But, why is the character part of the WWE Smackdown roster?
“I don’t think that’s too much of an anal wrestling-fan question.”
Being a big fan of anal wrestling myself, I agree.
Does anyone know where I can download that song anywhere. The theme song is great! And I saw it last night it was really funny.
I LOVE THAT SONG, I HAVE BEEN TRYING FOREVER TO TRY AND FIND THAT SONG TO DOWNLOAD IT BUT I CANT FIND IT. ANYONE KNOW THE REAL NAME OF IT OR WHO ITS REALLY BY OR ANYTHING?
What is it about wrestling fans that makes them so obsessed with downloading theme songs?
Relax, people. There will be a soundtrack eventually. Took 2 months or so after release before they did one for Napoleon Dynamite.
The song’s called “Religious Man”, it’s from 1975, by the band “Mr. Loco”:
http://www.maph49.galeon.com/avandaro/locos8.html
I found an mp3 of the song.
[url]http://nachoignacio.tripod.com/_-_Nacho_Libre_Soundtrack.mp3
why did’nt jack black [aka nacho] go on the wwe
& use his nacho gimmick it would be great
imagine nacho vs king booker or mr kennedy