Leprechaun 2 (also known as One Wedding and Lots of Funerals in the United Kingdom) is a 1994 American fantasycomedy horror film directed by Rodman Flender and written by Turi Meyer and Al Septien. The sequel to Mark Jones' Leprechaun (1993) and the second entry in the Leprechaun series, the plot centers on the psychopathic leprechaun Lubdan (Warwick Davis) as he hunts for a bride and for his gold.
Leprechaun 2 was released on April 8, 1994 to a box office total of $2.3 million. Panned by critics, it was the final installment to receive a theatrical release, until Leprechaun: Origins in 2014. A sequel, Leprechaun 3, was released direct-to-video the following year.
Plot
In 900s Ireland, leprechaun Lubdan celebrates his 1,000th birthday, on Saint Patrick's Day. Once he marries, Lubdan promises to free his slave, William O'Day. Lubdan’s intended bride, however, is O'Day's only daughter. In response to O'Day's pleas, Lubdan says that she will be his only once she sneezes three consecutive times without anyone saying "God bless you". Once Lubdan manipulates her to start sneezing, O'Day says ”God bless you", in an effort to save her, but is killed by Lubdan, who promises to marry another female O'Day on his next 1,000th birthday.
On St. Patrick's Day, in 1990s Los Angeles, a young man named Cody works with his Uncle Morty giving "dark side" tours, a scam that drives tourists around to the alleged gravesites of celebrities. Cody takes over the tour one day, when Morty is too drunk, forcing him to cancel a date with his girlfriend, Bridget O’Day. He drops Bridget off at a go-kart track run by his rival, Ian. Prior to Bridget's departure, Lubdan emerges from one of the tour stops (a real Irish tree was growing at the home of Harry Houdini). Lubdan attacks and pulls out a homeless man’s gold tooth before he goes in-search of his new bride-to-be: Bridget, a modern descendant of the O'Day bloodline. Cody speeds through a red light and is arrested; Morty bails him out of the police station.
Ian has to drive Bridget home, trying to force his way inside her place to seduce her, but she punches him. While leaving, Ian sees Bridget gesturing for him to come to the garage; however, it is a trick by Lubdan, who has disguised a lawnmower as Bridget. As Ian attempts to kiss “Bridget”, the lawnmower is revealed; now running, it slices Ian to death. Cody later visits Bridget and gifts her with flowers, and they reconcile. Lubdan sneaks inside and begins to make her sneeze, which Cody thinks is caused by the flowers and attempts to say "God bless you", but starts to be strangled by a phone cord before he can finish the phrase. Lubdan then manifests, to claim Bridget. After a scuffle with Cody, he escapes with Bridget, but loses one of his gold coins after Bridget knocks the pot-o’-gold from his hands. The coin falls into Cody's possession.
Lubdan takes Bridget to his lair, but realizes a coin is missing. He leaves to get it back. Since Cody left the flowers behind, he is considered a prime suspect in Ian's death and Bridget's disappearance. He returns home and consults a book with Morty which explains the leprechauns' ancient search for love and that cast iron is their one weakness. Lubdan then attacks, demanding his coin back. Cody makes a deal to surrender it for Bridget’s safe return, unaware that Lubdan plans to manipulate him. Morty intervenes, and they escape to a bar which is celebrating St. Patrick's Day. Morty notices Lubdan at the bar and challenges him to a drinking contest, assuring Cody that Bridget cannot be taken as long as Lubdan is with him. Morty wins the contest, but Lubdan escapes, sobering-up at an espresso bar, murdering a barista while there. Noting the leprechauns’ weakness for cast iron, Cody and Morty go to the go-kart track office to empty the safe, which is made of cast iron, intending to capture Lubdan inside.
A security guard nearly catches them, but Morty knocks him out. As Lubdan attacks Morty, Cody manages to trap him inside the safe. However, Morty then locks Cody in a supply closet and demands that Lubdan give him three wishes, in keeping with the tradition. Morty first wishes for his pot o’ gold. The wish is vaguely granted, the gold manifesting inside Morty's stomach. Lubdan says he can remove it, if Morty uses his second wish to free him from the safe. For his third and final wish, Morty wishes for the gold to be removed, which Lubdan grants by disemboweling and killing him. Cody flees the closet, but is apprehended by the guard, who accuses Cody of being behind all the murders. Lubdan then appears in a go-kart, running-over the guard. He attempts to run-over Cody, who discovers that possession of the gold makes one invincible. He makes his way to Lubdan’s lair.
There, Cody defeats the living skeleton of the ancient O'Day and frees Bridget. They attempt to escape the labyrinth-like cave, but get separated. Cody finds Bridget, who asks Cody to give her the coin. He complies, and she is revealed to be Lubdan in-disguise. The real Bridget reappears and begs the leprechaun to spare Cody. However, the leprechaun forces Cody to stab himself with a cast iron stake. Cody's death is a ruse (he knew of the trick), as he actually gave Lubdan a chocolate coin. Still immune to Lubdan’s attacks, Cody stabs the leprechaun with the stake, causing him to combust. Cody and Bridget escape, and discard the gold coin. They emerge in the sunlight and kiss.
In its U.S. opening weekend, the film played in 252 theaters and grossed $672,775. Its final domestic box office was $2.3 million.[2]
Reception
Leprechaun 2 holds an approval rating of 6% on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, based on 17 reviews.[3] Kevin Thomas of the Los Angeles Times wrote that it has better writing, production values, acting, and humor than the original.[4]TV Guide stated that the film is an improvement over its predecessor, though "cynically contrived even by schlock horror standards".[5] Marc Savlov of The Austin Chronicle critiqued that the film is a complete rehash of the original.[6] Discussing the rationale for a Leprechaun sequel with Fangoria, Warwick Davis said, "Money's definitely the answer", alluding to a pay increase for his role as the titular villain.[7] The film inspired the Los Angeles business venture Dearly Departed Tours, which opened in 2005.[citation needed]
