Saint Patrick's Day seems to be dead in the TV marketing department, there really aren't any Saint Patrick's day specials, I mean, Charlie Brown has an Arbor Day special but no Saint Patrick's day! Disney Channel decided at least , once, to have a Saint Patrick's day related piece of media. The movie isn't about Saint Patrick's Day, but they air it around Saint Patrick's day so, that's how that works. Plus, since when this is published, we are also looking at Friday the 13th which is connected to Luck so we are trying to kill two birds with one stone.
This movie first came out in March of 2001 on Disney Channel. It stars Ryan Merriman, who showed up on Disney Channel Original movies before and after like "Smart House" and "A Ring of Endless Light". There's also Timothy Omundson, whom you may know from "Psych" as "Lassie" but but, where's my "Judging Amy" gang? It also stars the late Henry Gibson.
Let's get started. Our main character (played by Merriman) is middle school student named Kyle Johnson, he's a popular basketball player at his school. (Because this seems to be a Disney Channel early days go to sport, also it's funny the same actor played a kid who also later plays basketball in "Smart House". The school is doing a heritage day thing that Kyle is worried about and he also asks his parents where his family is from, like their heritage. His father says they moved from Cleveland. ( This movie makes you want to think these two parents are serial killers on the hide from the law and or kidnappers of Kyle) There's also the plot device, lucky coin, more on that later.
I'm also confused
First, the movie wants us to watch a basketball game, because it has time for this. Kyle seems to have luckiness to him, he's a good basketball player, popular, the girls want him (probably some guys do to) and yeah. Meanwhile, there's another important character for this movie her name is Bonnie Lopez, she's in charge of the heritage day committee. She wonders about Kyle's , remember he doesn't know. (Maybe he's french; I wish the title of the movie would tell me)
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Movie likes to show that Kyle has weird dumb luck just to make a point. Also, they want to show the mom makes weird food, this is contrast for later. Kyle presses his parents to figure out his heritage, but they still seem like they are serial killers. (I'm uncomfortable) This part of the movie is one music change from being a horror film.
He's one step from taking Kyle out/ Copyright Disney
Kyle decides to use the 2001 internet to see if he figure out his heritage and family. Bonnie helps him figure it out. He also doesn't know his mother's maiden name , which means he makes it harder for identity thieves. We are pressing hard on his mother's side now because it's important. So far the movie is not doing anything that's not important for it's plot, they are either doing some tight writing or I'm over thinking. He finds out his father's real name is Bob Smith (I'm calling the police) really making me think he's a serial killer, or hit man or something. Also, maybe the lucky charm coin is lucky.
My father had a very boring name/ Copyright Disney
Meanwhile, the coin has a match to something he has on his coin and yes he might be Irish. What? Irish? no way? It's not like the title would say anything about that. Meanwhile, Irish stuff. Meanwhile, Henry Gibson and makes this movie even more fun with his presence! Remember his shoe symbol, that's important. Also, obvious CGI is obvious.
He's not CGI. Copyright Disney
more after the jump
Timothy Omundson shows up as well and now step dancing. So many camera angles! After this event, Kyle notices his mother is speaking with an Irish accent, and is making bacon and eggs instead of weirder food. His mother says she's Irish. She mentions the early days of Irish people coming to America. Kyle notices his luck is not going so well, compared to normal. The next, he notices he is shorter now and everyone at school is not impressed with him anymore because everyone is a phony. Thanks to science they figure out that Kyle's lucky coin was switched with a fake a one because the real one was made of real gold.
Here's where the movie gets weird... so Kyle's mother isn't just Irish , she's also a leprechaun. There she is standing there in her like 8 inches of glory. Kyle is part leprechaun. When they have their luck, it helps them pass as fully human, and it's because of the coin. Remember Henry Gibson's character? He's their grandfather. He runs the Emerald Isle chips company so,that's where they go to find the coin.
Ma, I think I'm too tall/ Copyright Disney
So, the reason why they were hiding away from Reilly O'Reilly, the grandfather ,was because he didn't like that his daughter married a non leprechaun. That's the name change reason and everything else that's been doing on. They aren't allowed to go see him, but thankfully, Bonnie is in a tour group that happens to be going to the chip plant and Kyle sneaks in with them.
Now we get a chase scene. This movie has everything. Good thing, he finally gets to meet his grandfather. He also finds out that Reilly doesn't have the coin. That means the coin is stolen. They figure out that Omundson's character, Seamus McTiernen, took the coin. This movie has a nice car in it. We also get a car chase because this movie has everything. The also the "it could be worse" and then it gets worse thing, because this movie has everything. They find the R.V and find the gold coin but grandpa was to take all the gold in the pot. Kyle doesn't want to do all that and thankfully Kyle embracing who he is makes things better.
Now there is 21 minutes left in the movie so, I think we need... oh yep the bad guy takes Reilly hostage and Kyle now makes a bet with him, that he beat him in sports. Should have been more specific but alright. First they do some hurling. See, should have been more specific. Oh Kyle gives the cheesiest line in this movie I'm out.
Since Kyle loses, he loses coin , so he makes another bet that if he wins without his luck, he gets his coin back, and Seamus has to go to land of his fathers. Also, if he loses he becomes Seamus' slave. Since this is Disney Channel, you know that they aren't going to let a 12 year old become a slave in a movie so you can guess he wins. (that'd be a dark movie) You get a whole basketball moment though. Seamus gets sent to Lake Erie, and Ohio. Oh, Bonnie's subplot of wanting to play a sport has been resolved too. It ends with Kyle and everyone singing this land is your land.
It's a fun Disney Channel movie, it's message of people should be proud of their heritage and that Americans come from different backgrounds but that's what America good is a good message. The best part of the movie in the acting department are the talented actors of Gibson and Omundson they bring a lot to this movie, they didn't just treat this as paycheck for cable channel kids and family movie. They bring a lot of fun to this slightly cheesy movie. The special effects are fine, though yo can see the obvious CGI because it's a 2001 cable TV movie , but that doesn't mean it's not a joy to watch otherwise.
The movie does have the whole Irish and leprechaun thing because alright then, but it does acknowledge historical things about the Irish coming to America and what they faced when they did. So, it's not being that weird. It's entertaining family movie and does belong in one of the best Disney Channel movies.
That's it for now, tune in next time when we are in Cleveland.
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