Tonight's Movie: Chasing Leprechauns (2012)

Everyone's heard of "Christmas in July," but how about changing that up and celebrating St. Patrick's in July instead?

Hallmark's CHASING LEPRECHAUNS (2012) is a wonderful option for some Irish-themed movie fun. This gentle film starts off slowly yet works its way into a viewer's heart just as a small Irish town captivates an American named Michael Garrett (Adrian Pasdar).

Michael is his U.S. company's reliable trouble-shooter. He's sent by his boss (Colin Stinton) to the Irish town of Ballyglenn to clear the way for the company to build a copper smelting plant. The company is facing a unique problem -- they can't build unless they satisfy a local law that ensures no "little people" will be harmed during construction. Yes, that would be little people as in leprechauns!

The perplexed Michael is at his wit's end trying to find a way to certify that there aren't leprechauns on the company property. Michael takes the advice of Sheamus (Terry Byrne), a retired teacher, and simply tries to start getting to know the local area and its people, hoping that fostering good relations will lead to a solution.

Michael tries his boss's patience but as time passes he develops warm relationships with a number of the local citizens, including his kindly landlady Evelyn (Marion O'Dwyer), and he falls in love with a pub owner -- and leprechaun expert -- named Sarah (Amy Huberman). He might even start to believe in the little people...

This is a lovely little movie with evocative wintertime filming by Peter Robertson, shot on location in County Wicklow, Ireland. The movie thus looks and feels rather different from many Hallmark films, which are typically shot in Canada (and occasionally Romania!). It all seems quite authentic, save for a moment when Michael's about to have a rugby lesson and is asked if he plays soccer, rather than football -- but perhaps Michael's new Irish friend was trying to make himself understood by thoughtfully using the U.S. term?

There are some wonderful bits of business, such as the jetlagged Michael regularly going for midnight jogs in the snow -- experiences which in their own way lead him to better understand the place and the people.

Michael and Sarah enjoying a steaming Thermos of coffee on the company property looks very inviting, and I especially loved the dance at the pub, where both Michael and the viewer realize he's falling in love with the place.

CHASING LEPRECHAUNS was written by Rod Spence and directed by Kevin Connor.

The supporting cast includes Patrick Doyle, Sean Duggan, Kate Brennan, Jonathan Ryan, Frank O'Sullivan, and Pascal Scott.

This movie can currently be rented for streaming on Amazon.

A promo is on YouTube.