Let me start by saying that this is probably my favorite movie; certainly my favorite comedy. In my opinion it is one of the most quotable films ever created and seems to appeal to the idiot in all of us. With an all-time performance from Jack Black and great use of mise-en-scene from Director Jared Hess (Napolean Dynamite), Nacho Libre puts forth a worthy, goofy-style comedy that brings out the luchador in all of us. Yes, it is a comical film, but it’s also the story of a man trapped in mediocrity, longing for adventure, passion and to follow his dreams. If that relates to you then give Nacho Libre a watch.

 

This movie is about a monk living in a monastery in Latin America. This Monk, Ignacio, or Nacho for short, is in charge of making the meals for all the other monks and orphans living in the monastery. He is clearly not content with his life, although he loves the orphans and they him, he has a deep yearning to become a luchador. One day, when he’s in town getting groceries, he sees a flyer for an amateur match with a cash reward. With the help of a local bum he befriends, Esqueleto, Nacho becomes a luchador, dawning stretchy pants and mask, all without the knowledge of any of his monk brothers (as fighting in the ring is considered a sin). With plenty of hilarious action and quirky dialogue in-between, Jared Hess gives the audience a lovable and predictable storyline to follow. But the storyline is actually one of the least important aspects of the film, at least for analysis purposes. The real beauty lies in the mise-en-scene, dialogue, developed characters, soundtrack and overall cinematography.

 

This movie had a bit of hype coming out in theaters as Jared Hess had directed Napoleon Dynamite two years earlier. There are obvious similarities in filming styles though Nacho Libre boasts better overall in almost every category. In our online eBook, the following quote in chapter 5 (p. 205) perfectly illustrates just how important mise-en-scene can be for a movie, and Nacho Libre-without most viewers knowing- is case and point.

“A fully realized mise-en-scene plays a crucial role in creating the illusion of naturalness that encourages our enjoyment of movies as spectators.” (Looking at Movies: An Introduction to Film)

If you’ve seen Napoleon Dynamite, then you know its use of mise-en-scene incorporates bland looking environments, next to no special effects and almost sad or boring looking characters (for comedic effect). Nacho Libre take this style and runs with it. The scenery in the film does look outdated and odd, but in a beautiful sense, as Hess really embraces the Latino culture of the film, giving us many, slow shots of the surrounding area. In comparison to Napolean Dynamite, it seems to use more close-up shots on various scenery, whether it be a bright table cloth, a luchador mask or an ugly wall in the city. The real beauty in this cinematic style is that most films that look like this are artsy, serious dramatic flicks (think Wes Anderson), but with Nacho Libre, the way the film specifically looks ads to its awkward humor. It is for this reason that many people branded it as boring on their first viewing and I was among the crowd. It wasn’t until a second and third time through that I started to pick up on Hess’ tendencies that I now see as genius.

The soundtrack is another one of the most notable aspects of the film; I find myself singing or humming along to nearly every track whenever I watch the film. It plays right into the Latino culture as well as the quirky humor of the film; it is somehow a beautiful mix of the two. It certainly plays directly into the rural Mexican town setting, but without sounding too authentic it gives off enough comedy on its own to produce a few chuckles from the lyrics alone.

 

Without a doubt, the most recognizable aspect of this film is the dialogue. There are some world-famous quotes that came from this movie and many I say almost daily. For example: “Do you not realize I have had diarrhea since Easters?” “I only believe in Science.” “Chanco! I need to borrow some suedes!” “These are my recreation clothes.” “Mhhm good toast.” These are just a few of the all-time great quotes used in the movie. And what makes them so funny is that the characters are not trying to be funny, but instead we are laughing at who the characters actually are, which makes it all the better. This is another area of masterpiece from Hess, as the development of all the characters plays directly into this film’s style. Everyone is sort of awkward and their natural words and actions are what we are laughing at; something we saw in Napolean Dynamite as well. This is probably the most notable similarity to the two films: boring/awkward characters, who go about their everyday lives and along the way endure hilarious mishaps for the invisible audiences’ enjoyment. Of course, I have always been a fan of slapstick and goofy style humor, so perhaps that is why it appeals to me so strongly. But the way the film is set up, the development of the characters and their dialogues all tie into why this is such a beautiful film.

 

Beyond all of the humor, this is actually a feel-good tale as well, about a guy who is unhappy with his life, so he follows his dreams and achieves them for the betterment of himself and those close to him.