Ignacio (Jack Black) is the son of a Scandinavian Lutheran missionary and a Mexican deacon. They tried to convert each other but got married instead, then died while Ignacio was young leaving him at a monastery. Even as a boy, Ignacio was interested in professional wrestling and also has a costume that he made himself by stealing items from the monastery. Ignacio is a fat boy but continues to spend his free time in practicing for wrestling. When Ignacio is discovered with his costume, the monks strip him of his costume, bathe him with holy water, and introduce him to the kitchen after putting him into monk clothes. Now Ignacio is grown man, and is a cook for the Oaxaca monastery orphanage where he was raised. However, he dreams of becoming a Luchador (Lucha Libre performer). But wrestling is forbidden by the monastery as it is considered a sin of vanity. Ignacio cares deeply for the orphans, but his food is terrible due to a lack of funds with which to obtain quality ingredients. He is treated with contempt and indifference by the other monks. Juan Pablo (Moises Arias) is one of the orphans who wishes that they would get to eat a salad sometimes, instead of a slimy broth with Nacho chips sprinkled on top. One night, he is robbed of the orphans' tortilla chips in an alley and decides to make money to buy better food. Ignacio is inspired by a Luchador tournament poster in town, when he went to get supplies, and also watching the Luchador champion Ramses and his entourage, when they arrived at a bar. Ignacio also reveals a desire to be respected by the other friars, to overcome a sanctimonious friar Guillermo (Richard Montoya) who mistreats him, and consummate his feelings for the newly arrived tutor, Sister Encarnacion (Ana De La Reguera). Ignacio meets Encarnacion late at night and shares bread with her. Ignacio confesses his desires to Encarnacion. The next day, Ignacio is admonished by the monks for the bad quality of food (and the stolen Nachos) and the lack of quality ingredients to provide any sort of flavor to the food. Ignacio decides to disregard the monastery's rules and becomes a Luchador in order to make money. He tracks down and pairs up with the tortilla chip thief, Steven (Hector Jimenez), and they pair as tag partners and join the local competition, with Ignacio changing his name to "Nacho" to keep his identity secret. Steven adopts the name "Esqueleto" (Skeleton). Nacho and Esqueleto are defeated in their first match, but are nevertheless paid, as every wrestler is entitled to a portion of the total revenue. They prove to be popular with the crowd so are invited back. They continue to wrestle every week, with Ignacio using his pay to buy and prepare better food for the orphans. Ignacio is, however, discovered by an orphan named "Chancho" (Pig) (Darius Rose), who promises to keep it a secret and admires him for it. However, after losing many fights, Ignacio starts to look for help. Steven brings him to a gypsy-like man known as "Emperor" (Peter Stormare) who tells Ignacio to climb to an eagle's nest, crack open the egg, and swallow the yolk, claiming that he will gain the powers of an eagle. Ignacio completes the task but still loses the following night's wrestling bout. He decides to seek advice from Ramses (Silver King), a champion Luchador. Undeterred, the duo infiltrates a party Ramses' manager holds for the best wrestlers in Mexico. Steven climbs over a wall to get inside, where he discovers that in order to be considered a professional, one must be the last Luchador standing in the ring at an upcoming free-for-all match. Ignacio gets in by disguising himself as a member of the band playing live at the party but does not know their material and improvises; Ramses finds Ignacio's performance annoying and ousts him. Attending the party causes Ignacio to fall behind on his responsibilities at the orphanage, for which he angrily blames Steven, who retaliates by declaring he hates all orphans; they acrimoniously end their partnership. Later when Ramses shoves him after meeting him in the street, he realizes Ramses is not to be admired. Ignacio's secret is revealed at the monastery at Mass, when his robe catches fire during a prayer, exposing his wrestling costume. He admits that he is Nacho, intends to fight at the "Battle-Jam", a battle Royale between eight Luchadores, for the right to take on Ramses, and for a cash prize, which he will use to make life better for the orphans. Thereafter both Esqueleto and Nacho compete with several other popular wrestlers in order to earn the right to challenge Ramses. The wrestler Silencio ("silence") (Donald Chambers) wins. Nacho, due to the actions of an already beaten wrestler, comes in second place. Feeling shunned at the monastery, Ignacio leaves to live in the nearby wilderness. In the morning, Steven comes to tell him that Silencio's bunions are swollen and therefore cannot fight Ramses. Nacho will, therefore, have to fight instead. It is revealed that Silencio's injury was caused because Steven had driven over his foot with a tricycle. Ignacio is distrustful of Steven, as he had previously stated that he hated orphans. Steven convinces him that he no longer does. Ignacio agrees to team up again. That night, Ignacio sends a message via Steven to Encarnacion, explaining his plan and confessing his love to her (as a sister). In the match, Nacho does well despite initial difficulty. With the crowd supporting Ignacio, Ramses resorts to cheating. Nacho then is nearly defeated - indeed, unmasked - by Ramses. (Although the unmasking is a very significant event in a Luchador's career, suggesting the player's defeat and dishonor, the match continues with minimal acknowledgment of the act). Encarnacion then enters with the orphans. Elated and inspired, Nacho throws Ramses off, knocks him out of the ring, and jumps onto him with a flair recalling his earlier brush with eagle eggs and their supposed power. Ramses is defeated and Ignacio becomes champion. He uses his prize money to buy a bus for field trips for the children. Ignacio, Steven, and Sister Encarnacion take the children to see an ancient city, Monte Alban, built by the Zapotec civilization. Ignacio, by now, has earned Encarnacion's favor, as demonstrated by her signs of encouragement and his somewhat awkward acknowledgment thereof.
Read more →
