Everyone loves a good and big belly laugh -- the kind that's so intense that you feel like you've done a hundred crunches and can't catch your breath afterwards. Of course, another vision that comes to mind with the term is jolly ol' Saint Nick and his rotund tummy bouncing up and down while giving a hearty, holiday ho-ho-ho. What some may also think is appropriately related is the notion of comedic actor Jack Black playing an orphanage cook who moonlights as a masked Mexican wrestler and that eliciting much contagious, belly shaking from his various antics.
Alas, the only part of that term that holds true for "Nacho Libre" is "big belly" as Black lets it all hang out and then some in this forced and not particularly funny comedy from the same guy who brought us "Napoleon Dynamite." Much like that unexpected hit played like a "Saturday Night Live" skit run amok -- what with its juvenile humor, episodic structure and exaggerated title character -- this one comes off the same way.
In fact, one could equate it to a breeding of "Dynamite's" comedic sensibilities and a highlight reel of Black's usual antics. The result might possibly play to the same crowd who adored that Jon Heder mouth-breather flick, but I'm guessing most audiences would rather have their nachos covered in cheese and salsa rather than Black's prodigious gut that nearly becomes a character in and upon itself.
Following in the tradition of other big-bellied comedians who didn't hold anything back -- think of John Belushi and Chris Farley to name a few -- Black completely throws himself into roles like this. While they're successful (or not) to varying degrees, you have to admire the lack of self-consciousness and the willingness to do most anything to get a laugh.
Unfortunately for him, writer/director Jared Hess and co-writer Mike White don't come up with anything genuinely clever, imaginative or funny with which he can work, resulting in there being lots of shenanigans, but not a great deal of successful humor. Sure, there's the usual trademark facial expressions, grossly exaggerated singing and more of his usual repertoire, but the main focus seems to be on showing that bare belly as many times as possible (although I have to admit I chuckled when his character does a clothed butt clench to try to impress the young and pretty nun played by the lovely and alluring Ana de La Reguera ).
Presumably hoping to appease the viewers that fell for Heder's Dynamite character, the filmmakers introduce Héctor Jiménez as his long lost Mexican cousin, Esqueleto. Another wiry mouth breather who alternates between smiling with a mouthful of rotten teeth (that would send even Steve Martin's motorcycle riding sadist from "Little Shop of Horrors" fleeing into the night screaming), appearing anxious, and looking like he's confustipated (simultaneously confused and constipated), he's there to play up and off the nerd character. With only a smattering of resultant laughs (once the visual "appeal" has quickly worn off), it' s pretty much a wasted effort.
As is the overall film. De La Reguera is present as a forbidden love interest and moral reminder (her character thinks wrestling is a sin), but is just as likely around simply to provide a pretty face against all of the unattractive masculinity. And the wrestling scenes -- playing off the popular Mexican sport known as lucha libre -- don't amount to much other than a great deal of slapstick and otherwise rough mayhem in the ring.
Unlike in "School of Rock," the kids here playing the orphans don't remotely engage the viewer or really provide much in terms of plot. Simply put, and notwithstanding the occasionally manic comedy-based action, there isn't enough story to hold everything together, make us care or, worse yet, elicit those big belly laughs.
Many of the jokes that are present are far too predictable and take way too long to pay off, thus always leaving the viewer ahead of the film. Some may be surprised that the filmmakers didn't go for the easy ribbing of Catholic religious figures being paired with young boys, but I for one am glad they passed on such material.
Of course, they could have done the same for the scene where wet animal dung is smeared into Jiménez's face as part of his character's wrestling training. I'm not sure how that was supposed to help in such regards, but unless you're a tween boy (or still one at heart), you probably won't find that amusing, let alone hilarious. Episodic to a fault, about the only thing the film has going for it is a fun and lively soundtrack that thankfully helps the film move along in its otherwise patience-trying 90-some minute runtime.
Prominently featuring Black's big belly but not the abdominal laughs often associated with that part of the body, "Nacho Libre" is like a short comedy bit that's escaped from a skit show and somehow grown into a feature length film. It rates as a 3 out of 10.
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