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Giving Nacho A Second Chance

My first exposure to the film Nacho Libre was late at night while sitting in the back seat of a mini van at age sixteen. I was surrounded by the Bell family from my neighborhood back home, my dear friend McKenna was there too. We had just left the annual Stadium of Fire! fourth of July celebration where we'd fan-girled over Miley Cyrus (you know, back in her good-old Hannah Montana days). They had generously invited me to come with them, and I had loved the outdoor seats on the grass where the music played right in front of us and the gigantic fireworks boomed overhead . . . But at present it was nearly midnight, and we were stuck in a parking lot for hours while the thousands of other guests darted in their own cars for the exits . . . And on repeat, on their little mini-van TV screen, played the film Nacho Libre. I'm pretty sure we watched it at least two times in a row that night, perhaps more.

Perhaps I was sleep-angry. Perhaps it was the cramped backseat. Perhaps it was because I had little to no experience at the time with Catholicism or Mexican culture. But Jack Black's performance didn't impress me, nay, it made me gag.

Flash forward ten years later. I'm married now, and my improv-comedian husband has a ferocious love of uncomfortable comedy films like Napoleon Dynamite. So in an attempt to be a good wife I consented to watch the Nacho show with him two nights ago.

GUYS.





IT WAS HILARIOUS.

AND I'VE BEEN QUOTING IT EVER SINCE.

Of course there's still the face-palm parts, like the awkward-mutual-crush-thumbs-up-with-creepy-mustache-smile-exchange at the end. Or the uncomfortably large woman with the doll collection that chases Esqueleto through holes in the wall (whaaaaaat?).

But there's so many redeeming qualities.

Por ejemplo, Nacho's love sonnet 😂 "no no no, no no no way José"

The toast pushed under the door...

The way the Esqueleto guy smiles after he says stuff and it looks like his lips are stretched out to full capacity...

The motorcycle bike thing...

How Nacho borrows sweats from Chancho...

"MUCHO TAKE IT EASY!"


Maybe this is all a sign that my artistic taste is declining. But I for reals enjoyed it this go around. Glad I gave Nacho a second chance.


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