Jack Black at his best

Rating: 10/10 (7 March 2008)

Ignacio as a child is an obese orphan growing up in a very poor Mexican religious orphanage. To cope with the deprivation the young Ignacio fantasies he a great wrestler or in Mexico a Luchador. He even makes up a wrestler's out fit and calls himself "Nacho Libre" but he is punished and forbidden to live out his fantasy. Ignacio grows up ( played by Jack Black) and becomes a friar who cooks meals for the children in the orphanage. He loves the children and has a big heart but feels terrible about having to feed them meals cooked with rotting vegetables and spiced up with nacho crackers donated by the town cafe. A nun, Sister Encarnacion (Ana de la Reguera) joins the orphanage and Ignacio is smitten by her and she also is endeared to his devotion to the children. Ignacio goes into town to collect the Nachos when he confronts this deprived beggar Esqueleto (Hector Jimenez)who is stealing the Nachos and a fight ensues. Esqueleto puts up a strong fight but Ignasio overpowers him and decides to befriend him. Esqueleto has inspired Ignacio to secretly enter the local wrestling scene in order to to gain the skills of the Champion wrestler Ramses. He does this so he can win money to help the orphans. Ignacio and Esqueleto get beaten in the wring by everyone but are popular and earn money. Ingansio is found out by the the other friars who banish him from the orphanage. In desperation Ingnasio is inspired by Esqueleto to enter a competition to win a fortune by beating the great Ramses. To add to the motivation he hopes win favour with Sister Encarnacion who finds his forbidden mission has a noble objective. Jack Black's animated self effacing performances and range of silly facial expressions give the character real dimension. An extremely funny film with a very unusual story. It will live on as a classic and is worth the purchase of the DVD.