Since this blog usually (well actuallyyyyyyy) posts on Thursday and this year Saint Patrick's Day falls on a Thursday, we decided to look at something that would work for the holiday. The problem is that Saint Patrick's day as a holiday doesn't get much media; there's no "A Saint Patrick's Day, Charlie Brown", and not much really given to the holiday in that respect. Many times it's written as away to get your characters drunk or something.
I would go deeper and try to find some stuff that can work for the holiday, and I guess a Nickelodeon special works, it's about a leprechaun. This gives a leg up and making a "Lookback" post before it old enough to be one.
"Lucky" is 2019 Nickelodeon animated special (It's 42 minutes long, it's a special) that premiered on March 8. Just in time for the holiday, and they've not really aired this special much sense that first year. (Oh)
It was directed by Casey Leonard who worked on "Breadwinners" and the animator on "Out of Jimmy's Head". It's done in 3D CGI animation because of course it's done in 3D CGI animation. It was written by two "Kim Possible" writers Both Roth and Bill Motz , along with Bart Coughlin who worked as a writer on "Alvinnn!! and the Chipmunks" and had been the arts part of animated movies.
The story starts with a leprechaun named McSweeney who was minding his own business, whilst carrying his gold around, which is not a smart thing to do, because someone or something might want to take that gold, like a dragon who takes his lucky pot gold. (Which means it's not that lucky is it?) The luck was undone and the family has been affected by this including our main character named Hap McSweeney. (The McSweeney's were lucky in getting love though)
He's late for school because of the bad luck. You'll also notice that the house the family lives in , is very crooked, the parents seem to be more accepting of the stuff than their son. Hap does an anime girl is late to school run, minus the toast, and it let us see his place where he lives and notice all the mystical people creatures that live here like elves, gnomes, etc. 
Friendship is dangerous/ Copyright ViacomCBS
At school we meet Hap's friends (the true luck is friendship) they are going to Houlihan Tower, which is some rich guy's house. (Gee, I wonder if ... hmm) The guy who lives in this city called Fortune City (which is bit much) in the mansion is named Harry Houlihan the luckiest man in town. (Gee, I wonder if...)
This movie isn't animated like a big budget movie, but it not badly done either, it has maybe at least Nick Jr/ Disney Jr. quality level of CGI is at least good, and not too bad for a TV special, it's on par with that level and that's not bad.
We meet, Harry Houlihan, if he's not evil, then he's dressed incorrectly for someone who's not evil. Hap ends up in a room where Harry has his security cameras being monitored, by nobody, and he notices that the guy who looks evil has his family's gold right there. How convenient. (He's also voiced by Mark Hamill)
That's not Willy Wonka/ Copyright ViacomCBS
Back at school, Hap tells his friends what he saw and wants to get family's gold back. The friends decide to want to join him and get the gold. If you think this is moving a little quickly, it is , but it's a 42 minute special, we don't have time for dragged out stuff, which at least removes some of the filler that could happen, because we have to get straight to the action and plot. That being they are going to try and sneak into the mansion during a big gala to retrieve the gold.
They dress up to blend in with the gala. It's a heist movie! They make it to the spot where the pot of gold is being held, but Harry is watching from the surveillance room, still getting evil vibes from him. We get a cool explosion to get the doors open. Harry shows up and being evil, and fun fact: Harry is not just evil, but also is an evil dragon. (what a twist!, the dragon part that is)
How to train your dragon to also be a man who is beloved by a City because of immense luck that he stole from a leprechaun / Copyright Viacom CBS
This movie is going for the real luck is the friends we make along the way, and Hap decides the best idea destroy the gold by throwing it into the magma, and I think dragon guy dies. He didn't die, because apparently we can't kill villains in this movie, but he has bad luck. (uhh, so death would have been the better outcome for him)
The movie ends with Hap being more used to his life being this way now and a change of perspective (and reusing scenes we had before, yay!)
Again, this is not a bad special, it checks the marks of the story and is pretty fast paced to fit 42 minutes of content and that's fine. It's a fun treat, the story is simple, it goes for the real luck is the friends you have along the way, and the message of changing your perspective, that the parent characters give in the start. You can understand why Hap was invested in changing his situation, and his parents being mostly optimist characters.
His friends are interesting, though not too much is developed on all of these characters since we don't get that long, but you do at least understand their characteristics in basic form and their roles. Going back to the animation, it's not bad and it's good for TV. The villain is obvious, but you know what? It's better than forcing a surprise villain.
The comedy is fine, a kid would like it a little more, but it's not bad. It's a little fun, watch it for Saint Patrick's day, you can watch it anytime really, but give it a look.
That's it for now, tune in next time when we take our pot of gold on a walk, hope no dragons want it.
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