You would have to be pretty unlucky to watch this movie
Top o' the morning to ya laddies! 'Tis St. Patrick's Day, the day where all Irishmen, and Americans who claim to be at least 1% Irish get wasted on Baileys and Guinness. Since because it is St. Patrick's Day, what better movie to review then one featuring Leprechauns. One of the first movies to pop into my head was a old Disney Channel Original Movie from the pre-High School Musical era (Which were the only good DCOM movies in my opinion, little me couldn't get enough Zac Effron). Luck of the the Irish is a kid's movie from 2001, and it shows. It is so early 2000s that it actually hurts. The movie is about a young boy, curious about his heritage, he ends up causing trouble for his entire family. Main character also finds out that his dad actually fricked a Leprechaun, so that's something. I forgot, this is also a basketball movie as well because, fuck it, Leprechaun playing basketball.
The movie starts with a weird dream sequence where our main character, Kyle is at the upcoming Heritage Day event at his school, but he is less then a foot tall. After that pointless opening scene, Kyle heads off to his Basketball game. With a lucky shot, he manages to win the game, and his team is set to go to the semi-finals, or something like that. The next day, Kyle is treated like a hero at his school. Everything seems to be going well for him, that is until his classmate, Bonnie starts to continuously harass him about Heritage Day. When he gets home, Kyle tries to ask his parents where they come from, only for his parents to dodge the question in a very suspicious manner. Kyle is forced to do his own investigating now, and finds out that his dad had changed his last name; totally not suspicious at all. Later on Kyle, and his friend Russel, who is the only black kid in the entire school find out there is a Irish Heritage Carnival going on that day. The two boys go there, and come across a strange old man who before leaving shouts out, "Buy the boy, a bag o' spuds!" while tossing some coins that land in a perfect stack. The boys then meet Seamus, a step dance master. With the lively Irish music playing, Kyle can't help, but to do a perfect step dance. Although he ends up falling over, and this is the beginning of his problems. The next morning, Kyle's mother is seen making classic Irish dishes, and talking in a thick Irish accent. She then states the obvious, they're Irish. She didn't want to tell him because she was worried that he would be discriminated against for being Irish, even though discrimination against Irish people is so two centuries ago. While at school, Kyle starts having the most unluckiest day ever, and it gets worse. Due to the fact that he always got baskets in basketball because of luck, Kyle doesn't actually know how to play basketball. Kyle really flops at the semi-finale, but the team still manages to win. The next day at school, absolutely everyone hates him. Now I was never into sports when I went to school, but i'm 99% sure kids don't act like this.
That day Kyle realizes that not only is he getting shorter, but his hair is turning spiky, and red, and his ears are gaining a point at the tips. He rushes home, and finds his mom in her true Leprechaun form. Kyle takes the news that his dad actually fricked a Leprechaun relatively well. His parents explain that they shouldn't be turning though since Kyle has the Lucky Coin he always wears around his neck, which is essentially the luck of the entire clan. Although before he had left the school, a magnet test showed that his was not his coin, as his coin is solid gold, and thus can't be attracted by a magnet. Kyle's mom decides that it must be her father who stole the coin, which makes no sense, why would he steal the coin that keeps him human as long as it's on the youngest clan member's possession. By the way, the old guy Kyle, and Russel saw at the Carnival is actually his grandfather, and owner of the largest potato chip company in the area.Since Kyle's dad is completely human, and won't shrink, he drives Kyle, and his tiny wife to where her father would be, the potato chip factory. Kyle manages to sneak in via blending himself into a convenient field trip group that Bonnie happens to be in. Bonnie finds him, and he explains to her what is happening before they are chased around by a whole team of security guards. Soon enough they are caught, and Kyle meets his grandfather. His grandfather is willing to talk with him as they walk over to where Kyle's mom is. Kyle then mentions that maybe they can ask Seamus if he saw their coin. Grandpa freaks out because turns out Seamus is a evil Leprechaun, so of course he was the one that stole it. They take Grandpa's car, and go to find Seamus, they also pick up Russel along the way. A chase scene starts as the group drives after Seamus before they are stopped by a popped tire. The whole family now doubts that they will be able to get their luck back, but Bonnie decides to motivate them with a history lesson about the Irish arriving in America, and how with hard work they can do anything. Ah yes, the message of this children's movie is, Capitalistic Ideals are good; also that Leprechauns are the most oppressed minority. We also get this great one liner from Russel, as seen in the GIF below.
The rain stops, and Kyle spots a rainbow. Grandpa then begins running with Russel, and Kyle following him to the end of the rainbow. Russel tries to explain to the actual Leprechaun who knows magic that there is no end of the rainbow. Man, I bet Russel felt like a dummy when they find the end of the rainbow, Seamus' RV with the pot of stolen lucky coins in it. With grandpa's help, Kyle gets back his coin. Though grandpa wants to now steal the rest of the coins, leading to a argument which wastes enough time for grandpa to be captured by Seamus. Kyle then makes a bet with Seamus that he can beat him at sports, if Kyle wins then they get the coin, and grandpa back. Agreeing to the terms, Kyle, and Russel are teleported to Ireland where they do ancient Irish sports, such as Hurling. They tie, and since technically Kyle didn't beat Seamus, the coin is taken away, and he threatens to keep his grandpa as his slave forever. Kyle makes another deal, beat him at a game of basketball, and if they win Seamus is sent to the land of his father forever, but if Seamus wins then Kyle will be Seamus' slave. They are then teleported to the big basketball game that the boys were going to do anyway, and no one seems to question what thirty-something year olds are doing in a high school basketball team. At first the game is going in Seamus' favor, but then Russel is given a coin by grandpa, who says the coin is lucky. With the coin, Russel starts getting more points for their team. Turns out though that the coin isn't lucky at all, and it's confidence that makes him good. Kyle sees this, and starts doing his best too. Of course Kyle's team gets the winning score at the last second. At first Seamus thinks he is being sent to Ireland, but nope, Kyle's father is from Cleveland, meaning that Seamus will live in Lake Erie forever. Now it's a happy ending, and stuf- wait, it's not over yet!? Yup now it's time for Heritage Day where Kyle does a Irish dance, and then sings "This Land is Your Land". Most cringe part of the movie to be honest, well aside from when Kyle break dances when he supposed to be dong Irish Step Dancing. After that, then the movie actually ends.
I consider myself pretty lucky I didn't grow up with, well, whatever this was. Personally I think you would need a few pints before you even attempt to watch this. One thing I will give it credit for is that, this movie is fun make fun of. Due to that one redeeming feature, this Disney Channel "classic" gets a 2 out of 5 Paws up.
The movie starts with a weird dream sequence where our main character, Kyle is at the upcoming Heritage Day event at his school, but he is less then a foot tall. After that pointless opening scene, Kyle heads off to his Basketball game. With a lucky shot, he manages to win the game, and his team is set to go to the semi-finals, or something like that. The next day, Kyle is treated like a hero at his school. Everything seems to be going well for him, that is until his classmate, Bonnie starts to continuously harass him about Heritage Day. When he gets home, Kyle tries to ask his parents where they come from, only for his parents to dodge the question in a very suspicious manner. Kyle is forced to do his own investigating now, and finds out that his dad had changed his last name; totally not suspicious at all. Later on Kyle, and his friend Russel, who is the only black kid in the entire school find out there is a Irish Heritage Carnival going on that day. The two boys go there, and come across a strange old man who before leaving shouts out, "Buy the boy, a bag o' spuds!" while tossing some coins that land in a perfect stack. The boys then meet Seamus, a step dance master. With the lively Irish music playing, Kyle can't help, but to do a perfect step dance. Although he ends up falling over, and this is the beginning of his problems. The next morning, Kyle's mother is seen making classic Irish dishes, and talking in a thick Irish accent. She then states the obvious, they're Irish. She didn't want to tell him because she was worried that he would be discriminated against for being Irish, even though discrimination against Irish people is so two centuries ago. While at school, Kyle starts having the most unluckiest day ever, and it gets worse. Due to the fact that he always got baskets in basketball because of luck, Kyle doesn't actually know how to play basketball. Kyle really flops at the semi-finale, but the team still manages to win. The next day at school, absolutely everyone hates him. Now I was never into sports when I went to school, but i'm 99% sure kids don't act like this.
The rain stops, and Kyle spots a rainbow. Grandpa then begins running with Russel, and Kyle following him to the end of the rainbow. Russel tries to explain to the actual Leprechaun who knows magic that there is no end of the rainbow. Man, I bet Russel felt like a dummy when they find the end of the rainbow, Seamus' RV with the pot of stolen lucky coins in it. With grandpa's help, Kyle gets back his coin. Though grandpa wants to now steal the rest of the coins, leading to a argument which wastes enough time for grandpa to be captured by Seamus. Kyle then makes a bet with Seamus that he can beat him at sports, if Kyle wins then they get the coin, and grandpa back. Agreeing to the terms, Kyle, and Russel are teleported to Ireland where they do ancient Irish sports, such as Hurling. They tie, and since technically Kyle didn't beat Seamus, the coin is taken away, and he threatens to keep his grandpa as his slave forever. Kyle makes another deal, beat him at a game of basketball, and if they win Seamus is sent to the land of his father forever, but if Seamus wins then Kyle will be Seamus' slave. They are then teleported to the big basketball game that the boys were going to do anyway, and no one seems to question what thirty-something year olds are doing in a high school basketball team. At first the game is going in Seamus' favor, but then Russel is given a coin by grandpa, who says the coin is lucky. With the coin, Russel starts getting more points for their team. Turns out though that the coin isn't lucky at all, and it's confidence that makes him good. Kyle sees this, and starts doing his best too. Of course Kyle's team gets the winning score at the last second. At first Seamus thinks he is being sent to Ireland, but nope, Kyle's father is from Cleveland, meaning that Seamus will live in Lake Erie forever. Now it's a happy ending, and stuf- wait, it's not over yet!? Yup now it's time for Heritage Day where Kyle does a Irish dance, and then sings "This Land is Your Land". Most cringe part of the movie to be honest, well aside from when Kyle break dances when he supposed to be dong Irish Step Dancing. After that, then the movie actually ends.
I consider myself pretty lucky I didn't grow up with, well, whatever this was. Personally I think you would need a few pints before you even attempt to watch this. One thing I will give it credit for is that, this movie is fun make fun of. Due to that one redeeming feature, this Disney Channel "classic" gets a 2 out of 5 Paws up.
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