Nacho Libre (2006)

Film and Plot Synopsis

Jack Black is at his comic best as Ignacio, a disrespected cook at a Mexican monastery that can barely afford to feed the orphans who live there. Inspired by a local wrestling hero, he decides to moonlight as the not-so-famous Luchador “Nacho Libre” to earn money for the monastery — not to mention the admiration of beautiful nun Sister Encarnacion.(Courtesy Paramount Pictures)

‘Nacho Libre’ Movie Summary

Ignacio is a deacon in Mexico and an orphan himself. He cooks for the church and spends time with the orphans at the church’s orphanage. The priests don’t take him seriously and give him menial work and make him cook for everyone with no fresh ingredients. Ignacio dreams of being a luchador, but his role as a deacon prevents him from pursuing his dreams as a fighter.

One day a pretty young nun named Encarnacion joins Ignacio at the church, and Ignacio and the other priests are smitten by her. Ignacio determines to pursue his dreams of fighting along with the vagrant, Esqueleto who he met when being robbed of the Lord’s chips in an alley. The two of them team up to fight in a local match, only to get beaten when Nacho is showboating. They learn, however, that even the losers get paid, and they determine to become the best tag-team duo they can be.

Ignacio is taking pains to keep his identity as Nacho secret, but he also decides to taste the good things life, the corn, the boots, the stretchy pants, and tries to impress Encarnacion with his swag. Encarnacion is not impressed and worries that Ignacio has lost his way.

Ignacio and Esqueleto infiltrate a party in an attempt to join the big-time wrestlers and fight the great Ramses. But they are humiliated, and likely sexually assaulted by a very large admirer before arguing and ending their partnership. Ignacio, along with Esqueleto, enter a seven man free for all, the winner of which would be invited to fight Ramses and punch his ticket to the bigtime. Ignacio nearly wins but ultimately loses after being tripped in the final seconds of the match.

Ignacio is heartbroken and retreats to the wilderness in town to disappear and probably die. However, Esqueleto comes to tell him that the winner of the free for all was injured, by Esqueleto, and can’t fight Ramses. Ignacio has his chance. Ignacio discovers that he loves the church and the orphans more than the finer things, the corns and stretchy pants, of the world. And he determines to fight for the ninos. He meets Ramses in the ring and nearly loses until Encarnacion surprises him at the match with the orphans, all dressed to support their hero, Nacho. Nacho finds his eagle powers and handily beats Ramses. He uses his newfound money to buy the orphans a bus and travel Mexico with them.