Nacho Libre
Nacho Libre is typical Jack Black, although it’s a bit more of him than most viewers probably have ever seen. Not only do his outlandish costumes accentuate his… well, delicate?... body, every scene is filled with some kind of antic, expression, or over-dramatized accent that makes Jack Black king of clean comedy. Reminiscent of Inigo Montoya (Mandy Pantinkin) in The Princess Bride, Jack’s dialogue convinced me for at least ninety minutes that he was a genuine Mexican. Despite it’s exceptionally fun and entertaining nature, I was still quite conflicted about writing this review. I couldn’t nail down what bothered me about the film’s message. Maybe it didn’t clearly support any one of my beliefs (too easy, though). Maybe there were mixed messages (definitely that). Or maybe it reminded me of how infrequently I seem to get on God’s agenda (most likely option).
The story suggests that God and Nacho have different plans for Nacho’s life. Nevertheless, many pieces of those plans intersect and overlap. As if Nacho has a “glimpse� of what God wants of him, he heads off in several directions to make sense of his destiny. His efforts to find his calling, though, cheat him out of a genuine relationship with God. But, to be fair, don’t we all cheat ourselves out of the incredible life God has for us? Our vain attempts to define Him (and our world) constantly deter us from understanding His true character through a daily relationship. And herein lies the “But God� concept. We try to put God in a box with definitions and expectations, BUT GOD keeps busting that box wide open with his majesty and wonder, his ways that are not our own.
1. Man tries to segregate people by faith groups. Nacho (Jack Black) and Esqueleto (Hector Jimenez) banter back and forth routinely throughout the film about the fact that Esqueleto believes only in science. Nacho, a man of faith, blames their corporate failure on the fact that Esquesleto doesn’t believe in God. In one hilarious scene, he baptizes Esqueleto to save his soul from imminent death in the ring. Locked into his dogmatic practices, Nacho misses God’s passion for Esqueleto.
BUT GOD looks on the heart of each individual as worth of reaching. When the two men enter a crisis of faith, they journey to find “the way of the eagle,� the wide path, if you will. When it proves false, they face an allegiance dilemma. What’s next for their faith? God ultimately changes Esqueleto’s heart and draws Nacho back to his roots. Rather than simply dismissing people because they have not yet believed, God desires to find and captivate the hearts of the lost.
2. Man tries to find his purpose without God’s revelation. Consumed by the desire to win and become the greatest fighter in the world, Nacho forgets that his original intent in wrestling was to provide food for the orphans. Throughout most of the movie, Nacho’s quest for purpose is thwarted by financial success, career failure, and a misguided pursuit of power and fame. His efforts to find direction in life ultimately fail.
BUT GOD reveals a more fulfilling purpose in life than any man can discover on his own. Nacho, discouraged and disillusioned, finally asks God, “Why did you give me this desire to fight and make me a stinky fighter?� Only then does God show Nacho that his desire is for the orphans to receive provision.
3. Man tries to use God to accomplish his objectives. Now claiming that God is on his side, Nacho boldly states that God will help him win a match so that the orphans can have a better life. But, is he just using his faith to achieve his secret goal (to feed his ego)? As is so typical of real life, Nacho fails miserably.
BUT GOD uses events and people to accomplish his greater will in everyone’s life. Rather than getting on Nacho’s agenda, God creates a supernatural event after the fight where Esqueleto is overcome by compassion for a mistreated orphan. Esqueleto’s unlikely response propels the second-place loser, Nacho, into the finals. Because of the way this plays out, Nacho’s heart is humbled and everyone receives a piece of the blessing.
4. Man uses success to glorify himself. Sister Encarnacion (Ana de la Reguera) warns that the problem with the luchadores (wrestlers) is that they become false idols for the kids, but also adds that it’s okay to fight if it’s for a good cause. Skipping the whole idolatry part, Nacho gets his head straight about giving the money to the kids, but fails to see the idolatry issue through. The final scenes show Nacho’s picture painted on the bus and the kids chanting “Nacho, Nacho!� Though it’s a feel good ending, Nacho becomes the idol that the sister warned about.
BUT GOD uses man’s failure to reveal his perfect Son. The story doesn’t follow Nacho’s life after his great success, but imminent failure is likely. No man can withstand the expectations of others. No man can lead a perfect life. Honestly, we are no different than Nacho. No matter how pious any of us are deluded enough to think we are, we forget that we are broken vessels. Though we desire positive, spiritual things in life, we (like Nacho) are equally tortured by desire for the things of this world. Though we seek to help the less fortunate, we are helplessly given over to pride and self-preservation. Anyone who reads the Bible will soon discover that even the best of us pale in comparison to Christ, who loved us and gave himself for us.
I’m still not sure if I was more enchanted by Jack’s fantastic curly fro or distracted by the mixed messages I was getting about faith in Nacho Libre. I loved the movie, to be sure. It was worth my $8 to be entertained by Jack Black for the evening. And as for the mixed messages, they are more true to life than I would like to admit most days. As humans, we miss out on seeing the God who so tenaciously pursues us. And yet, He still sees fit to reveal himself to us. I’m thankful that God doesn’t get on my agenda, but waits patiently for me to respond, all the while whispering gentle invitations to know him better.
The story suggests that God and Nacho have different plans for Nacho’s life. Nevertheless, many pieces of those plans intersect and overlap. As if Nacho has a “glimpse� of what God wants of him, he heads off in several directions to make sense of his destiny. His efforts to find his calling, though, cheat him out of a genuine relationship with God. But, to be fair, don’t we all cheat ourselves out of the incredible life God has for us? Our vain attempts to define Him (and our world) constantly deter us from understanding His true character through a daily relationship. And herein lies the “But God� concept. We try to put God in a box with definitions and expectations, BUT GOD keeps busting that box wide open with his majesty and wonder, his ways that are not our own.
1. Man tries to segregate people by faith groups. Nacho (Jack Black) and Esqueleto (Hector Jimenez) banter back and forth routinely throughout the film about the fact that Esqueleto believes only in science. Nacho, a man of faith, blames their corporate failure on the fact that Esquesleto doesn’t believe in God. In one hilarious scene, he baptizes Esqueleto to save his soul from imminent death in the ring. Locked into his dogmatic practices, Nacho misses God’s passion for Esqueleto.
BUT GOD looks on the heart of each individual as worth of reaching. When the two men enter a crisis of faith, they journey to find “the way of the eagle,� the wide path, if you will. When it proves false, they face an allegiance dilemma. What’s next for their faith? God ultimately changes Esqueleto’s heart and draws Nacho back to his roots. Rather than simply dismissing people because they have not yet believed, God desires to find and captivate the hearts of the lost.
2. Man tries to find his purpose without God’s revelation. Consumed by the desire to win and become the greatest fighter in the world, Nacho forgets that his original intent in wrestling was to provide food for the orphans. Throughout most of the movie, Nacho’s quest for purpose is thwarted by financial success, career failure, and a misguided pursuit of power and fame. His efforts to find direction in life ultimately fail.
BUT GOD reveals a more fulfilling purpose in life than any man can discover on his own. Nacho, discouraged and disillusioned, finally asks God, “Why did you give me this desire to fight and make me a stinky fighter?� Only then does God show Nacho that his desire is for the orphans to receive provision.
3. Man tries to use God to accomplish his objectives. Now claiming that God is on his side, Nacho boldly states that God will help him win a match so that the orphans can have a better life. But, is he just using his faith to achieve his secret goal (to feed his ego)? As is so typical of real life, Nacho fails miserably.
BUT GOD uses events and people to accomplish his greater will in everyone’s life. Rather than getting on Nacho’s agenda, God creates a supernatural event after the fight where Esqueleto is overcome by compassion for a mistreated orphan. Esqueleto’s unlikely response propels the second-place loser, Nacho, into the finals. Because of the way this plays out, Nacho’s heart is humbled and everyone receives a piece of the blessing.
4. Man uses success to glorify himself. Sister Encarnacion (Ana de la Reguera) warns that the problem with the luchadores (wrestlers) is that they become false idols for the kids, but also adds that it’s okay to fight if it’s for a good cause. Skipping the whole idolatry part, Nacho gets his head straight about giving the money to the kids, but fails to see the idolatry issue through. The final scenes show Nacho’s picture painted on the bus and the kids chanting “Nacho, Nacho!� Though it’s a feel good ending, Nacho becomes the idol that the sister warned about.
BUT GOD uses man’s failure to reveal his perfect Son. The story doesn’t follow Nacho’s life after his great success, but imminent failure is likely. No man can withstand the expectations of others. No man can lead a perfect life. Honestly, we are no different than Nacho. No matter how pious any of us are deluded enough to think we are, we forget that we are broken vessels. Though we desire positive, spiritual things in life, we (like Nacho) are equally tortured by desire for the things of this world. Though we seek to help the less fortunate, we are helplessly given over to pride and self-preservation. Anyone who reads the Bible will soon discover that even the best of us pale in comparison to Christ, who loved us and gave himself for us.
I’m still not sure if I was more enchanted by Jack’s fantastic curly fro or distracted by the mixed messages I was getting about faith in Nacho Libre. I loved the movie, to be sure. It was worth my $8 to be entertained by Jack Black for the evening. And as for the mixed messages, they are more true to life than I would like to admit most days. As humans, we miss out on seeing the God who so tenaciously pursues us. And yet, He still sees fit to reveal himself to us. I’m thankful that God doesn’t get on my agenda, but waits patiently for me to respond, all the while whispering gentle invitations to know him better.
