Movie Review: NACHO LIBRE Author: Bill Ramey Friday, June 23, 2005, 4:39 PM TEXAS TIME U.S. Release Date: June 16, 2006 Distributor: Paramount Pictures & Nickelodeon Movies Director: Jared Hess Writing Credits: Jared Hess, Jerusha Hess, Mike White Cast: Jack Black, Ana de la Reguera, Héctor Jiménez, et al Genre: Comedy MPAA Rating: PG OFFICIAL WEBSITE: www.nacholibre.com TRAILERS: www.apple.com./trailers To be honest, I went into NACHO LIBRE expecting a “Jack Black Comedy” along the lines of SCHOOL OF ROCK (which, um, rocked) or SHALLOW HAL (which was a tad “superficial‘). I didn’t think it would be as clever as HI FIDELITY mind you, but I figured I’d enjoy watching it. I’m also a big fan of NAPOLEON DYNAMITE, consequently I was glad to see director Jared Hess helming this film. Jack Black + Jared Hess would seem to equal funny stuff. Now, NACHO is funny -- laugh out loud hilarious at times -- but it’s much more than a mindless comedy. It has heart. Tons of it. I don’t know what it was about this movie, but it touched me for some reason. Perhaps it was the fact that it made me care about every single major character in the movie. I’m telling y’all, I was really liking and rooting for Nacho, Esqueleto, Sister Encarnación, and Chancho. And the yin to that yang is that NL also offers up characters for you to dislike. There are several characters that you can direct your hate towards -- but they never overshadow the story. So, you got a cool dynamic going on here -- heroes, villains, and a whole lot of care to be had for all. I won’t bore you with the storyline as I’m sure you all know it -- OK, I will anyway. “Nacho” is a friar cook (hehehe) in an orphanage somewhere in Mexico. While he’s devoted to what he does, he feels as if there is something missing in his life. He long dreams of becoming a “luchador” and the adulation that may come. By chance, Nacho meets up with Esqueleto and a wrestling partnership is formed. While they mostly get their ass kicked regularly, Nacho and Esqueleto keep at it and sort of become underdog fan-favorites. This movie is never disrespectful to Mexico -- which it could have been if it wanted. It never takes andy potshots towards the Catholic Church -- which it certainly could have. It never offers up anything that would offend anyone, but isn‘t politically correct, if you will. Not even the “love story” between Nacho and Sister Encarnación as there’s nothing inappropriate suggested at any point. How they end up, you can interpret that anyway you want. NACHO LIBRE is a good, funny, and heartwarming film. You can see it with your girl, man, son, or daughter and have a great time. NACHO LIBRE is without a doubt one of the best films I’ve seen this year -- not that I’m proclaiming it an Oscar candidate or anything. I simply had fun, and that’s how I generally rate a film. I laughed, I was touched, and I had a heck of a time watching it with my son. Speaking of which, I’ll turn it over to my #1 reviewer, ’ol Jake, as I did for CARS. This time, there was no “When is it going to be over Dad?” The only thing he asked me was if I could buy him a “Nacho mask.” He was completely engrossed in the movie. He clapped and rooted for Nacho and laughed throughout. I’m sure he’d give it a solid A+. Now, where can I find a “Nacho mask?” JETT’S GRADE: A- Bill Ramey, aka "Jett," is the founder and editor-in-chief of BATMAN ON FILM and ON-FILM.NET.