Page - 156 - in JRFM - Journal Religion Film Media, Volume 05/02

letic Jack Black undermines many ideals of masculinity throughout the film. Nev- ertheless, Moss’s lack of familiarity with Mexican professional wrestling (and the costumes that these luchadores wear) leads him to overstate the significance of Nacho’s stretchy pants in undermining constructs of masculinity. Indeed, El Santo, Blue Demon, and Mil Máscaras articulated an idealized hyper-masculinity on the Mexican silver screen while wearing stretchy pants of their own.58 Far from showing Nacho deviate from traditional articulations of masculinity, this scene shows that the friar has decided to enter into a hyper-masculine world of violence that is supposedly unbecoming of his ecclesiastical position. When Chancho promises to keep Nacho’s secret, he is referring to the fact that he will never tell anyone else that the orphanage’s cook moonlights as a professional wrestler because such a revelation would destroy Nacho’s career as a friar. While working at the orphanage, Nacho has to maintain the illusion that he opposes lucha libre. In one scene, for example, he breaks up a wrestling match between Chancho and another orphan. He hypocritically tells the children that they should stop wrestling “because it is in the Bible not to wrestle your neigh- bor”. When Chancho asks Nacho if he has ever wrestled, the friar replies that he has not; Chancho shows his loyalty when he decides not to publicly call Na- cho out on this lie. Nacho proceeds to tell the children of the wonders of life for those who do not wrestle. This scene is especially interesting because it in- terweaves Nacho’s desire to wrestle with his love for Encarnación; as such, it shows how the two great stumbling blocks of his faith converge. In the nun’s presence he tells the children that because he does not wrestle, “I get to lay [sic] in a bed by myself all of my life. It’s fantastic!” Hess crosscuts between Nacho and Encarnación during this monologue; Encarnación’s physical reaction shows mild surprise, but she says nothing. Nacho shares a flirtatious smile with her after the children decide that they will not wrestle in the monastery. Hess’s Mormonism influences how he approaches Nacho’s infatuation with Encarnación. The LDS Church posits heterosexual marriage as a saving ordi- nance that people must undertake if they wish to achieve the highest degree of exaltation in the afterlife.59 Beyond playing a pivotal role in Mormon theol- ogy, marriage is prerequisite for most positions of leadership within the LDS hierarchy. Nacho’s desire for Encarnación reflects a quintessentially Mormon ideal in which personal – and even ecclesiastical – growth depends on marriage. His desire for Encarnación may subvert Catholic teachings, but it does not un- dermine his ability to be a religious leader from an LDS perspective. This Mor- mon approach to marriage and sexuality lies in the background of many of the scenes in which Nacho attempts to woo his muse. In one case, Nacho takes 58 Dalton 2018, 154; Rubenstein 2002, 577. 59 The Doctrine and Covenants 2013, 131:2. 156 | David S. Dalton www.jrfm.eu 2019, 5/2, 141–165