‘LEPRECHAUN 2’ (1994) at 30 – A Retro Review

Leprechaun 2 (also known as One Marriage Lots of Funerals in the United Kingdom) is one of those movies that I had to watch cartoons after it was over as a kid. That didn’t happen to me often, but let’s face it, that Leprechaun is one scary little dude. Join me as I look back on this gem celebrating it’s 30th anniversary.  Maybe I’ll scare myself just writing this review.

Let’s dive into this.

Leprechaun 2
Leprechaun 2 Original ad 

Plot

Lubdan the leprechaun played by Warwick Davis (Leprechaun (1993) returns for this installment and he is celebrating his 1,000 years on earth. Lubdan is once again looking for his stolen gold coin and will get it any way he can. This time, however, he is seeking a wife and, he eventually settles for for a young girl named Bridgette played by Shevonne Durkin (Ghost in the Machine (1993) who happens to be a descendant of one of Lubdan’s slaves.

He is destined to have her in any way he can.  He is so dedicated, he will murder anyone in his path with anything, including a go-kart. Lubdan loves the hunt. He has never lost anyone for centuries. This time Bridgette comes to destroy with her boyfriend Cody played by Charlie Heath (Leprechaun 2 (1994) who steals one of Lubdan’s gold coins. Directed by Rodman Flender (The Office 2012-2013), the movie comes together as funny and a stomach turner. You don’t know what to trust throughout the illusion

Backstory

Leprechaun 2 was released on April 8th 1994.  The movie had a budget of $1.5 million dollars and the box office made $2.3 million dollars.  Leprechaun 2 went on to be the franchise’s last movie to hit theaters. Soon after they started releasing the sequels straight to video. Leprechaun could have been another iconic franchise. Instead, no one really bought the idea that this could be big. These days it’s more like a comedy when I’m having a bad day.

You can find a four pack of Leprechaun movies in the Wal Mart five dollar bin.  It’s where a lot of the “should have, could have, would have” movies enjoy their retirement plan.  It’s likely they didn’t make much money and that’s kind of sad for the genre: like a pro wrestler 20 years after their debut, or retirement.  I believe we should start a protest to bring this silly franchise fully back, but for now we can just watch the original movies again and again. Of course, maybe it’s just me being old and jaded, but I just don’t see the love as much. I will however, continue to keep movies alive, like so many others I have, in my physical media collection.

Leprechaun 2

In The End

I can’t say this movie is perfection. I watched them all through the years, the entire franchise, countless times. It isn’t the prettiest set up, the acting wasn’t the greatest, and the plot was a little confusing. If you are above that spectrum, however, even then it’s a good time. If you just want to relax and laugh a little, give all the Leprechaun movies a shot, at least once. For all the fans like me, don’t let this movie fade away.  Even if it is super silly and full of shadow kills. You really don’t need the gore (it would have ruined the movie in my opinion). Instead, I am honoring this weird little guy, just because I want to.

At this moment, you can find the entire series streaming on Peacock, Hulu and the Roku Channel.

About Craig Lucas

I hail from rural PA where there isn't much to do except fixate on something. Horror was, and still is my fixation. I have 35 years of horror experience under my belt, I love the horror community and it loves me.

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