Leprechaun in the Hood

Leprechaun in the Hood (2000)

Runtime: 90 minutes

Directed by: Rob Spera

Starring: Warwick Davis, Ice-T, Anthony Montgomery, Rashaan Nall, Red Grant

From: Trimark

Before I am suitably chastened for viewing such a film, let me explain… in my life, only the original and this film have been tackled before—I saw the OG as the adult more than once and reviewed it 2 ½ years ago; Hood was rented on VHS in probably ’01 for the absurdity of it all. Of course it was a bad movie (I’ve never loved the original, to be fair) yet the reasons why had faded by 2025.

The movie has spoof elements and it’s not like I never laughed with the movie—undoubtedly I laughed at it sometimes. Of course it was stupid nonsense involving Ice-T in the 70’s finding the leprechaun’s gold, including his golden flute… along with a trio of stooges who are supposed to be our protagonists, but they are massive dorks who try to be “positive rappers” and hardy har har, one’s a virgin! Somehow, I wasn’t enchanted by A-holes named Stray Bullet, Butch, and Postmaster P.

If I had the time or talent, I’d write rhymes on the level that Warwick Davis delivered throughout the film; his were better than the ones Moe, Larry, & Curly gave us! There’s also a trans character-while not the most offensive portrayal, our leads are stereotypically not nice to her, and that’s not the only questionable trans moment; that’s not even mentioning the Black stereotypes present. The worst sin of all: too many of the kills are pulled away from, or not shown at all. Two of them were shown & had nice gore so it’s not a complete loss. So is an inspired moment or two. I don’t know what to make of COOLIO’s cameo as himself-it was absolutely pointless.

Of course, the highlights were Ice-T and Warwick Davis. The former wears an afro & dresses like a pimp in his opening scene, and the latter talks about “tapping that ass” while smoking weed! If that wasn’t surreal enough, the end scene was Davis in his Leprechaun garb RAPPING A TUNE in a club! His droppin’ bars was also better than the rhymes that our protagonists were spittin’!

Leprechaun in the Hood is not a movie I recommend unless you’ve viewed the previous four films & love all four. The Leprechaun rapping is on YouTube anyhow. This also solidifies my decision to not check out the sequels, including 2003’s Leprechaun: Back 2 tha Hood.