Issue Date: November 12, 2006
Ready to rumble?
A mask maker on the Mexican wrestling comedy "Nacho Libre"
The DVD, out now, includes deleted scenes and a featurette on Mexican wrestling.
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THE PLOT: Nacho (Jack Black), a portly cook in a Mexican monastery, dons a mask and joins a popular wrestling league in order to earn money to feed a group of orphans.
Insider's credentials: Oklahoman Ron Thompson has been an avid fan of pro wrestling's body-slams and suplexes since the 1970s. Now he creates and sells custom-designed masks and clothing for indie wrestlers and fans (wrestlingweargalore.com).
OVERVIEW: "Jack Black was funny, but I wish they had cast someone who looked more [Hispanic]. It's obvious Jack was trained more in the American wrestling style. They have different rules in Mexico. Like, in the movie, they used a pile driver. That move's illegal in Mexican wrestling."
Scene 8: Stretchy Pants -- After completing his first match, Nacho designs a colorful costume and mask for himself.
"In Mexico, there are more masked wrestlers than unmasked. Masks never caught on here. 'Jobbers' got a reputation for wearing masks. Nobody wanted to be a jobber who loses all the time."
Scene 20: Big Match -- Having worked his way through Mexico's wrestling circuit, the doughy Nacho finds himself facing Ramses (Cesar Gonzalez), the country's top luchador.
"The WWE leans toward guys who are muscled up, like Ramses. To be on TV, you need this [incredible] physique. But most guys used to look like Jack. They were heavyset. I've had people contact me after seeing the movie and say they're going to wrestling school. They said, 'I'm the same size as Jack Black, and if he can do it, I can do it.' "
-- Reed Tucker
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