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The plot for Nacho Libre, the new movie directed by Napoleon Dynamite’s Jarod Hess, is as thin as any ill-conceived Saturday Night Live skit ever imagined. Raised as an orphan in a monastery and secretly idolizing luchadores, Nacho (Jack Black) now serves as a Mexican friar performing the tasks the other friars don’t want to do. He cooks for the orphans and performs dead-guy duties, all the while still worshipping the local luchadores. Seeking greater fame and glory, he creates a wrestling persona and teams with a street urchin in the hopes of becoming a famous wrestler. Of course, along the way, Black is allowed to pose, posture, and pontificate forcing you to laugh when you don’t want to and causing you to laugh even when you didn’t think you would. And by the way, there are some lessons to be learned.
One of the enduring qualities of Hess’ Napoleon Dynamite (and Hess’ filmmaking) is the coupling of the movie’s quirky and spooky David Lynch-type characters with the honest portrayal of a good-natured kid. Cast in that same light, Nacho is a grownup Napoleon, and therefore instantly likable. He has more confidence than he should, is more resilient than everyone around him, and has a heart for others that is surprising in light of his circumstances.
However, if all Hess did was recreate the successful elements of Napoleon Dynamite in this film, it would fall flat. But Hess does more. He’s out to teach a lesson this time. You see it coming a mile away and rejoice when it arrives. While Nacho is seeking personal fame, he meets a beautiful nun, Encarnacion, who teaches him about the beauty of sacrifice and service, and he meets his erstwhile luchaodre hero Ramses, who teaches him about the dangers of fame and vanity. Seeking clarity in a John the Baptist-type wilderness experience, Nacho struggles between personal glory and fame and serving God and others. There is very little mystery, and absolutely no spoiler, to say that he chooses the latter.
The lesson is simple, yet refreshing. There is plenty of glory and vanity to be gained in this world. It will bring you fame, money, and all the things the world values. But seeking the glory of God by choosing to serve others brings long-term satisfaction and creates real change while offering hope to those that have little.
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Lo bueno si breve dos veces bueno...
What he said :)
Thanks!
~H
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Lo bueno si breve dos veces bueno... Posted by Enzo | Posted at 06/26/2006 10:49 PM
What he said :)
Thanks!
~H
Posted by hpiglet | Posted at 07/04/2006 11:14 PM