Silly good natured romp to a dream

Rating: 7/10 (24 June 2006)

Nacho Libre -- Reaching out in stretchy pants "When you are a man sometimes you wear stretchy pants in your room. Is for fun." Do you like your movies silly? Are you willing to laugh at situations that are so ridiculous that they don't even have any foundation in reality? Do you think that that wrestling is, at its heart, funny? If so you'll like "Nacho Libre", a film that features Jack Black as an orphan who now cooks for orphans (and not very well at the start of the movie because he lacks fresh ingredients) and longs to be a professional wrestler. Why? For the fame, for the fortune, for the pride of winning.
There are many references to the conventions of other movies here, some handled convincingly (the "meet funny" pairing of Nacho and his funny sidekick) and some handled unconvincingly (the whole training scene while a nod in the direction of great training scenes in other movies, such as "Karate Kid" and "Remember The Titans" lacks the depth or center to pull it off).
Still, I found this movie to be big fun. While I was prepared to be offended by the fake Mexican accent and the odd use of locale the film is so silly and yet so sincere that it is beyond offending. You can't take it seriously, and yet you want to.
Of course, Nacho believes that his life will only be complete if he fulfills his dream of being a professional wrestler and we watch him live out his dream in a pleasant journey of pratfalls, leaps from cliffs, consumption of yucky foods (and eagles egg), confrontations with strangers, and rides on a motorized bike that would absolutely thrill me if I were ten years old again. It's like a bike, but more! And the way that Nacho postures as he is about to "peel away" on the bike (although with no real speed) makes you feel kid like again.
Seeking and living your dream is a noble adventure and I solute any effort, serious or humorous, to illustrate its value. The love interest is both stunningly beautiful and slightly confused as Nacho falls head over heels for her and attempts to court her (against his better judgment and yet he can't stop himself) by inviting her to his room for toast. This reminded me of the glorification of toast scene in "The Blues Brothers" and leads me to believe that multiple viewings of this silly film might reveal many more easter eggs and nuggets of insider fun.
"Nacho Libre" also contains some great lines that, like those in "Airplane" and "tHE Forty Year Old Virgin" are fun to quote out of context. My favorite is uttered by Nacho when his is discovered in his home made wrestling costume by one of the orphans when Nach says "When you are a man sometimes you wear stretchy pants in your room. It's for fun." When you are creative, sometimes you enjoy the silliest movies, laugh, and find reasons to get inspired. It's for fun.
Refections
* Have you ever held onto a dream secretly because others might find the dream silly or unrealistic? What would it take for you to resurface and explore that dream?
* "Buddy Movies" often show the development of unusual relationships into lasting and effective relationships. What is it about that type of story that is most appealing?
* If your life were a movie how would you describe your "training" scene? What major influences have taken you this far? What new influences will you need to reach the next level?
* Who do you know who might be a great partner in pursuit of a noble dream? What would be a good way to start a conversation on this topic?
* In "Nacho Libre" Jack Black plays a character with a gift of love for children and a gift of love for wrestling. Is it wrong to enjoy the limelight? How can enjoying the limelight and seeking better lives for others relate in your life and in your world?
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