Say what you will about the absurd low budget "Leprechaun": the concept was durable enough to create a series that kept actor Warwick Davis gainfully employed. It's extremely ridiculous stuff, and is certain to have people rolling their eyes at all times. That said, writer / director Mark Jones *knows* his film is daft, and refrains from ever taking it all that seriously. That can only be a good thing.
Davis is a total hoot in the title role, a demented, ugly little Irish beast who is swindled out of his gold and locked inside a crate for 10 years. After that time, he's unleashed and causes all sorts of trouble for a limited number of people. There's Tory (a dues-paying Jennifer Aniston, pre-"Friends"), a spoiled and stuck up California gal who moves with her father to North Dakota, and a trio of locals - Nathan (Ken Olandt), his younger brother Alex (Robert Hy Gorman), and their simple minded friend Ozzie (Mark Holton) who has the incredible misfortune to accidentally swallow one of the Leprechauns' prized gold pieces.
The diminutive little creep kills a few people along the way, but the body count remains low. This isn't much of a horror film, but it does amuse the viewer if they view it as a very dark comedy. There is a certain appeal in watching the enthusiastic Davis appear to have a lot of fun, as he fires off some zingers and takes delight in terrorizing the unwary. Aniston is good in her role, and gives us plenty of eye candy shots of her gorgeous gams. Olandt, Gorman, and Holton are all reasonably likeable. The special effects are agreeably cheesy, and Gabe Bartalos' makeup for the Leprechaun is impressive.
All in all, this is definitely good for some laughs and silly touches (death by pogo stick!); the movie has the feel of a cartoon at times. Some genre fans might dig it.
Five out of 10.
Davis is a total hoot in the title role, a demented, ugly little Irish beast who is swindled out of his gold and locked inside a crate for 10 years. After that time, he's unleashed and causes all sorts of trouble for a limited number of people. There's Tory (a dues-paying Jennifer Aniston, pre-"Friends"), a spoiled and stuck up California gal who moves with her father to North Dakota, and a trio of locals - Nathan (Ken Olandt), his younger brother Alex (Robert Hy Gorman), and their simple minded friend Ozzie (Mark Holton) who has the incredible misfortune to accidentally swallow one of the Leprechauns' prized gold pieces.
The diminutive little creep kills a few people along the way, but the body count remains low. This isn't much of a horror film, but it does amuse the viewer if they view it as a very dark comedy. There is a certain appeal in watching the enthusiastic Davis appear to have a lot of fun, as he fires off some zingers and takes delight in terrorizing the unwary. Aniston is good in her role, and gives us plenty of eye candy shots of her gorgeous gams. Olandt, Gorman, and Holton are all reasonably likeable. The special effects are agreeably cheesy, and Gabe Bartalos' makeup for the Leprechaun is impressive.
All in all, this is definitely good for some laughs and silly touches (death by pogo stick!); the movie has the feel of a cartoon at times. Some genre fans might dig it.
Five out of 10.