Now that I'm a working film critic again I got all sorts of press materials sent to me at the office, and today I received a press kit for all of Paramount Pictures' major 2005 releases. Some look good, while others more questionable (the upcoming Matthew McConaughey/Sarah Jessica Parker romance; Oliver Stone's 9/11 film).
But there was one in particular that jumped out at me as potentially good: it's called "Nacho Libre," and it's directed by Jared Hess, who also brought us "Napoleon Dynamite." Jack Black stars as "a Mexican priest who moonlights as a lucha libre wrestler to raise money for his orphanage."
Sounds to me like a non-pornographic version of "Orgazmo," right down to the director being a Mormon. Aside from the slight problem of Jack Black not being the slightest bit believable as a wrestler, a priest, or a Mexican, it sounds like a surefire winner.
On the other hand, before "Glory Road" last week I saw a preview of "The Shaggy Dog," a Disney film starring Tim Allen as a guy who turns into a dog. I've been going to movies for about 25 years, and I don't know that I've ever seen a film look more horrible on the basis of its trailer.
Posted by Stephen Silver at January 11, 2006 01:21 AMOh BLOGGER, why you don't do research before making your off comments amuses me every time. The Shaggy Dog was a remake of the same film from the late 50's (I've seen the original). And as for the Jack Black film, it is loosely based on real events according to an interview I saw on mtv. "The script was written by Hess; his wife, Jerusha Hess (who also co-wrote "Napoleon Dynamite"); and Mike White, Black's partner in Black & White Productions and scribe behind "The School of Rock" and "Orange County." The premise of the film is, in fact, loosely inspired by the true story of a priest who moonlighted as a luchador in Lucha Libre — in effect, Mexico's equivalent of World Wrestling Entertainment."
DIE STUPID BLOGGERS DIE!
I think Fred McMurry was the original shaggy dog, so Tim Allen is not that big a reach. Although I really wonder why they need to remake that one.
Posted by: J. Lichty at January 11, 2006 09:45 PM