Following their unprecedented success with Napoleon Dynamite, Jared and Jerusha Hess decided to return to the absurd with Nacho Libre. It was met with less critical success, but was still a modest hit for the husband-and-wife filmmaking team.
Featuring a dynamic performance from Jack Black as the orphanage cook turned luchador, Ignacio, Nacho Libre turned out to have excellent staying power and an endlessly quotable script. Low-brow and borderline offensive, Nacho Libre certainly isn’t a cinematic masterpiece. However, it is weirdly charming. Now, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty and review some of the most hilarious moments.
“Get that corn outta my face!” — Ignacio
Ignacio’s bumbling attempts to woo the beautiful nun, Encarnacion, do not go according to plan. Instead of accepting his wrestling partner Esqueleto’s offering, he lashes out.
“I mean, they may have the appearance of riches, but beneath the clothes, we find a man… and beneath the man, we find his… nucleus.” — Ignacio
The awkward butt clench really makes this scene.
“Chancho, when you are a man, sometimes you wear stretchy pants in your room. It’s for fun.” — Ignacio
Ignacio becomes a luchador to earn money to provide a better life for the orphans that he cares for, and Chancho is one of the only people who knows his secret identity. Still, kid. Learn how to knock.
“I’m tired of getting paid to lose! I wanna WIN!” — Ignacio
They’ve been beaten up by old dudes, had their hair ripped out, and are not in the best physical shape, but the dream lives on.
“Do you remember that one time, when everyone was shouting my name, and I used my strength to rip my blouse?” – Ignacio
“Yea, and then I saw them knock you unconscious, alright?” — Esqueleto
Ignacio had gotten a little taste of the glory, and it tasted even better than the Lord’s chips.
“It sucks to be me right now!” — Ignacio
Following a disastrous party with fellow wrestlers, Ignacio once again lashes out at Esqueleto. They may not have the most equal partnership.
“They think I don’t know a buttload of crap about the Gospel, but I do!” — Ignacio
OK, yes. This movie might be a touch sacrilegious. Still, he deserves better than “leftovers duty” and “dead guy duty!”
‘I’m a little concerned right now. About… your salvation and stuff. How come you have not been baptized?’ — Ignacio
‘Because I never got around to it, OK?! I don’t know why you are always judging me because I only believe in science. — Esqueleto
Does a sneak-attack baptism count?
“There is no place for me in this world, Chanchito. I don’t belong out there, and I don’t belong in here. So I’m going out into the Wilderness. Probably, to die.” — Ignacio
After his identity is revealed, Ignacio is forced to leave the orphanage that he calls home. Good thing he gets to return to the village the next day, because his survival skills leave something to be desired, even with the lucky machete.
“I hate all the orphans in the whole world!” — Esqueleto
Exhaustion and defeat makes jerks of us all, turning brother against brother. Over the line, man.
“Those eggs were a lie, Steven. A LIE! They gave me no eagle powers! They gave me no nutrients!” — Ignacio
Following the directions of a charlatan, Ignacio finds and disgustingly consumes some eagle eggs, hoping to receive some sort of power. Surprise! They do nothing and he still gets beaten up.
“Do you not realize that I have had diarrhea since Easters?” — Señor Ramon
Ignacio’s main motivation is to help out the orphanage, but he still doesn’t get any respect. To be fair, that does indeed look like the worst lunch ever.
“I ate some bugs, I ate some grass! I used my hands to wipe my tears!” — Ignacio
I see what you did there. We all see what you did there.
