The Luck of the Irish (2001 film)

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The Luck of the Irish
Disney - The Luck of the Irish.jpg
Promotional poster
Teleplay byAndrew Price
Mark Edward Edens
Story byAndrew Price
Directed by Paul Hoen
Starring Ryan Merriman
Alexis Lopez
Timothy Omundson
Henry Gibson
Music byChristopher Brady
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Producer Don Schain
CinematographyRobert Steadman
EditorJim Oliver
Running time86 minutes [1]
Production companyJust Singer Entertainment
Original release
ReleaseMarch 9, 2001 (2001-03-09)

The Luck of the Irish is a 2001 American sports comedy-drama film released as a Disney Channel Original Movie. [2] [3] The film, starring Ryan Merriman, Alexis Lopez, Timothy Omundson, and Henry Gibson, [4] contains elements of fantasy and sports film combined with Irish culture. [5] Conceived as a Saint Patrick's Day film, it was first broadcast on Disney Channel on March 9, 2001.

Contents

Plot

With his lucky gold coin on his side, 15-year-old Kyle Johnson gets everything in life, and is also the best basketball player on his team. Heritage Day is approaching and every time Kyle asks where his family came from, his parents, Kate and Bob, change the subject. He finds out that his dad changed his last name, but doesn't know why. One day, Kyle and his best friend, Russell Halloway, go to an Irish festival. There he sees coins just like his and wonders if he's Irish. When Kyle can't stop step dancing during Seamus McTieran and the Saint of the Step's show, he gets knocked down.

The next morning, Kyle wakes up and notices something is different about him. At breakfast, his mother is acting differently, and she confesses to him that they are Irish. On his way to school, his day of bad luck starts to begin. The next day, Kyle notices more changes; he's shorter, and his hair is turning red. In science class, a magnet attaches to his coin, and he realizes that his lucky gold coin was stolen. He rushes home to tell his parents and walks in to see that his mother has shrunk to one foot tall. She reveals to him that she is really a leprechaun and that he is one too. He tells them who he thinks stole it, and his mom says that was his grandfather, Reilly O'Reilly, founder of the Emerald Isle potato chip company. Kate and her father had a falling out over her having a "mixed marriage". They all go to the factory to ask for the coin back. After being kicked out by security, Kyle sneaks in with the Young Achievers group from school. A girl from school, Bonnie Lopez, asks why he is there, and he tells her. They get chased by security and end up getting caught by his grandfather. Reilly tells him that he didn't steal it and that it is their family's lucky coin. The youngest must have possession of it so all the leprechauns in the O'Reilly clan can pass as humans. Bonnie tells Kyle that his ears have changed, and are now pointy. Reilly starts to grow a beard.

They figure out that Seamus must have stolen the coin at the fair, so they go chase him down. Kyle's grandfather tells him that Seamus is an evil leprechaun. On their way, they come across Russell, who joins them. After Seamus and his gang get away, they track down their camper at the end of a rainbow. While they are distracted eating dinner, Kyle and Reilly sneak into the camper and find the coin. Sensing what's going on, Seamus captures Reilly and will only let him go if Kyle gives him the coin. Kyle wagers a bet to keep both. He bets on sports. The three of them, plus Russell and Seamus' friends, magically end up in Ireland. Kyle and Russell have to compete against them in Gaelic sports. They end up tying, but Seamus refuses to set Reilly free. Kyle risks his freedom and bets on Seamus in basketball without using his lucky coin. They are then transported to the junior high state championship game. Only Kyle, his family, and his friends are aware that they are playing against Seamus and his friends. Russell scores the game winning shot, Reilly is set free, and Seamus has to spend eternity at the land of Kyle's father (within the shores of Lake Erie). Kyle realizes that he doesn't need luck.

The movie ends at the school talent show with Kyle embracing his heritage by Irish dancing and singing "This Land is Your Land" with Bonnie.

Cast

Production

Parts of the movie were filmed at Lagoon in Farmington, Utah. [6]

Reception

The Luck of the Irish has been called the "strangest Disney Channel original movie ever". [7] It was a relative television success [8] The film received a very mixed retrospective review at the sports website SB Nation. [9]

Release

It was first broadcast on Disney Channel on March 9, 2001, [10] a week before Saint Patrick's Day. [11] [12]

Remake

In 2012, The Luck of the Irish was remade into an Indian Hindi-language television film, Luck Luck Ki Baat, directed by Iqbal Khan, featuring Satyajeet Dubey and Mahesh Thakur in the lead roles. [13]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "Watch the Luck of the Irish | Disney+".
  2. ↑ Bronner, Simon J. (2015-03-04). Encyclopedia of American Folklife. Routledge. ISBN   978-1-317-47194-3.
  3. ↑ Wright, Spencer (2023-06-30). Enchanted Disney: Stories of Walt, Hollywood, and Live-Action Film. BearManor Media.
  4. ↑ "The Luck of the Irish Cast: Where Are They Now This St. Patrick's Day?". E! Online. 2019-03-17. Retrieved 2023-12-11.
  5. ↑ Milo, Mr (2023-03-17). "Luck Of The Irish. Disney's Forgotten St. Patrick's Day Movie". Pirates & Princesses. Retrieved 2023-12-11.
  6. ↑ "Luck of the Irish (television)". D23. Retrieved 2023-12-11.
  7. ↑ Gorman, Cameron (2023-03-17). "Happy St. Patrick's Day to the Strangest Disney Channel Original Movie Ever". Collider. Retrieved 2023-12-11.
  8. ↑ McNamara, Donald (2009-10-02). Which Direction Ireland? Proceedings of the 2006 ACIS Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. ISBN   978-1-4438-1490-4.
  9. ↑ Jr, Harry Lyles (2020-01-16). "The Disney Channel Original movie 'The Luck of the Irish', reviewed". SBNation.com. Retrieved 2023-12-11.
  10. ↑ "The Luck of the Irish – Retro Review" . Retrieved 2023-12-11.
  11. ↑ "Review: Disney Channel's Original Movie "The Luck of the Irish"". The Herald. Retrieved 2023-12-11.
  12. ↑ "18 Things I Noticed Rewatching 'The Luck Of The Irish'". Bustle. 2016-10-02. Retrieved 2023-12-11.
  13. ↑ "Luck Luck Ki Baat" (PDF). Disney India. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
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