Year: 1989
Runtime: 85 mins
Language: English
Director: Michael Paul Girard
At Middlevale High, nerd Bill dreams of saving the world and dating cheerleader Chrissie. His chance arrives when he recycles a beer bottle and releases Lepkey, a drunken leprechaun who grants wishes—but muddles them. Bill must outwit jock Tony Chanuka, keep his wishes on track, and win Chrissie so they can open a clinic together.
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Read the complete plot breakdown of Getting Lucky (1989), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.
Bill Higgins [Steven Cooke] is a down-on-his-luck nerd who needs cash to go to medical school, so he takes a job as the school basketball team’s towel boy. At the gym he spots Krissi [Lezlie Z. McCraw], a crush he has carried since seventh grade, and his first day ends with humiliation as the team treats him poorly. A chaotic mishap follows when he accidentally dumps rancid milk over Tony [Rick McDowell] and Krissi just as they’re about to have sex behind the gym. The embarrassing incident pushes Bill to quit and fall back on collecting recycling for spare change.
While trying to toss a beer bottle into a dumpster, he discovers a bottle that contains Lepkey [Garry Kluger], a leprechaun imprisoned for drunken mischief. To escape his confinement, Lepkey offers Bill a deal: in exchange for freedom, he will grant three wishes. For his first wish, Bill asks for a date with Krissi, and the request is granted. But on the evening itself, Krissi ditches Bill and instead hooks up with Tony, leaving Bill feeling used and frustrated. In an effort to make amends for the botched first wish, Lepkey grants a second wish: a brand-new car, which turns out to be a bright red Pinto that changes Bill’s possibilities and confidence.
Krissi, feeling a pang of guilt, agrees to a genuine date with Bill for a round of miniature golf. Afterward, Bill discovers Tony speeding toward Krissi’s house, and to keep her safe, he asks Lepkey to turn him into a cat so he can slip inside unnoticed. The plan works, but when Tony arrives and tries to assault Krissi, Bill, now in cat form, and Krissi’s mother intervene just in time, prompting the police to arrest Tony.
The next day, Bill’s Pinto refuses to start, so he bikes to pick Krissi up instead. A misfired third wish goes wrong in a comic yet troubling way: Bill is shrunk down and ends up trapped in Krissi’s underwear as she rides to school, unable to escape. After cheerleading practice, he’s returned to normal size in the women’s locker room, which gets him into some trouble, yet Bill and Krissi decide to go steady after school.
For his third wish, Bill asks Lepkey for enough money to fund medical school, and Lepkey grants the request by sending a sizeable sum back to Ireland. That night Bill proposes to Krissi, and she happily says yes. They marry, but the wedding’s glow is interrupted when Tony kidnaps Krissi. Bill gives chase, leading to a bizarre and tense sword-fight with shish kabobs, during which Tony accidentally stirs up a wasp nest and is defeated. After the chase, Bill recounts the full tale of Lepkey and the three wishes to Krissi. Krissi initially accuses him of deception, but at that precise moment Lepkey appears in the non-alcoholic sparkling wine bottle Bill had purchased, confirming the entire unbelievable story. Krissi’s doubt gives way to astonishment as the magical twist lands in their hands, closing the loop on a wild, mischievous romance.
Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:30
Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.
Magical wishes go humorously awry in a fast-paced comedy of errors.If you enjoyed the comedic chaos of wishes in Getting Lucky, you'll love these movies. This list features lighthearted fantasy comedies where magical intervention leads to a series of funny misadventures, perfect for fans of playful, high-energy stories.
Stories in this thread follow a clear pattern: a protagonist gains a magical ability (like wish-granting) to solve a personal problem, but each use of the power creates a new, humorous complication. The plot is a chain reaction of these mishaps, building to a climax where the character must cleverly resolve the chaos to achieve their happy ending.
Movies are grouped here because they share a core premise of magical wishes backfiring, leading to a specific kind of fast-paced, lighthearted comedy. They blend fantasy with everyday settings, feature an underdog protagonist, and maintain a whimsical, fun-first tone throughout.
Awkward teenage romance gets a boost from a magical, whimsical twist.Fans of the playful high school romance in Getting Lucky will enjoy these films. Discover movies that combine teenage dating dreams with magical twists, featuring nerdy protagonists, cheerful fantasies, and a consistently fun, lighthearted vibe.
The narrative journey is a classic underdog romance, but amplified by a fantastical helper or event. A socially awkward teen, often a nerd, uses magical intervention to pursue their crush, leading to a series of humorous and heartfelt situations that ultimately help them gain confidence and win the day.
These movies are connected by their specific blend of a high school setting, a central teenage romance, and a whimsical fantasy element that drives the plot. They share a light emotional weight, a fast, fun pace, and an overall feel-good, youthful energy.
Don't stop at just watching — explore Getting Lucky in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Getting Lucky is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Track the full timeline of Getting Lucky with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Getting Lucky. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.
Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Getting Lucky that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.
Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Getting Lucky: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.
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