The Luck of the Irish (2001 film)

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

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. 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 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

 * Ryan Merriman as Kyle Johnson
 * Henry Gibson as Reilly O'Reilly
 * Alexis Lopez as Bonnie Lopez
 * Paul Kiernan as Bob Johnson / Robert Smith
 * Marita Geraghty as Kate O'Reilly Johnson / Kate Smith
 * Glenndon Chatman as Russell Halloway
 * Timothy Omundson as Seamus McTiernen
 * Thurl Bailey as Mr. Halloway
 * Duane Stephens as Patrick
 * Charles Halford 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 in Farmington, Utah.

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

Release
It was first broadcast on Disney Channel on March 9, 2001, a week before Saint Patrick's Day.

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.