''The Luck of the Irish'' is a 2001 American

Disney Channel original movie Many television films have been produced for Disney Channel, an American family-oriented basic cable channel and former premium television channel since its launch on April 18, 1983. Until October 1997, films were released under the banner nam ...

Plot

With his lucky gold coin on his side, 15-year-old Kyle Johnson (

Ryan Merriman Ryan Earl Merriman (born April 10, 1983) is an American actor. He began his career at the age of ten and has appeared in several feature films and television shows. He is best known for a handful of Disney Channel original movies and for portra ...

) 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 (

Marita Geraghty Marita Geraghty (born March 26, 1962) is an American television and film actress. She had roles in several movies during the late 1980s and early 1990s, most notably as Nancy Taylor in ''Groundhog Day''. She was married to actor Michael Maguire. ...

and Paul Kierman) 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 (Glenndon Chatman) 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 (

Timothy Omundson Timothy Michael Omundson (born July 29, 1969) is an American actor. He is notable for his supporting roles as Sean Potter on the CBS television series ''Judging Amy'', Eli on the syndicated series '' Xena: Warrior Princess'', Carlton Lassiter i ...

) 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 begins to notice the changes more noticeably; 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 A leprechaun ( ga, leipreachán/luchorpán) is a diminutive supernatural being in Irish folklore, classed by some as a type of solitary fairy. They are usually depicted as little bearded men, wearing a coat and hat, who partake in mischief. I ...

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 (Alexis Lopez) asks why he is there, and he tells her. They get chased by security and end up getting caught by his grandfather. Turns out Reilly didn't steal it. Reilly tells him that this 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 sneaked into the camper and found 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 Gaelic games ( ga, Cluichí Gaelacha) are a set of sports played worldwide, though they are particularly popular in Ireland, where they originated. They include Gaelic football, hurling, Gaelic handball and rounders. Football and hurling, ...

. 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 Lake Erie ( "eerie") is the fourth largest lake by surface area of the five Great Lakes in North America and the eleventh-largest globally. It is the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume of the Great Lakes and therefore also has t ...

). 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 "This Land Is Your Land" is one of the United States' most famous folk songs. Its lyrics were written by American folk singer Woody Guthrie in 1940 in critical response to Irving Berlin's "God Bless America", with melody based on a Carter Fam ...

" with Bonnie.

Cast

as Kyle Johnson *

Henry Gibson Henry Gibson (born James Bateman; September 21, 1935 – September 14, 2009) was an American actor and poet. His best-known roles include his time as a cast member of the TV sketch-comedy series ''Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In'' from 1968 to 19 ...

as Reilly O'Reilly * Alexis Lopez as Bonnie Lopez * Paul Kiernan as Bob Johnson / Robert Smith *

as Kate O'Reilly Johnson / Kate Smith * Glenndon Chatman as Russell Halloway *

as Seamus McTiernen *

Thurl Bailey Thurl is a given name. Notable people with the name include: * Thurl Bailey (born 1961), American basketball player * Thurl Ravenscroft Thurl Arthur Ravenscroft (; February 6, 1914May 22, 2005) was an American actor and bass singer. He was kn ...

as Mr. Halloway * Duane Stephens as Patrick *

Charles Halford Charles Halford (born February 28, 1980) is an American actor. He is best known for playing Chas Chandler on the NBC series ''Constantine'', Earl in ''Logan Lucky'' and Sammy Wilds in ''Bad Times at the El Royale''. Known for his distinctively d ...

as McDermot * Marshall Hilliard as Eddie McGuire * Stan Ellsworth as Basketball Coach * David Wee as Extra * Chris Lovett as Extra * Brittany Koppy (BK) as Extra * Kevin Clifford as Garbage Man * Ben Dino as Basketball Player #31

Production

Parts of the movie were filmed at

Lagoon A lagoon is a shallow body of water separated from a larger body of water by a narrow landform, such as reefs, barrier islands, barrier peninsulas, or isthmuses. Lagoons are commonly divided into ''coastal lagoons'' (or ''barrier lagoons'') a ...

in Farmington, Utah.

Remake

In 2012, ''

Luck Luck Ki Baat ''Luck Luck Ki Baat'' is an Indian television film on Disney Channel India. It is a remake of the Disney Channel original movie Many television films have been produced for Disney Channel, an American family-oriented basic cable channel an ...

'' was remade into an Indian television film directed by Iqbal Khan, featuring Satyajeet Dubey and Mahesh Thakur in the lead roles.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Luck of the Irish (2001 film), The 2001 television films 2001 films American basketball films American comedy television films Disney Channel Original Movie films Films about Irish-American culture Films about size change Films directed by Paul Hoen Films shot in Utah Leprechaun films 2000s American films