Rated PG
Starring Jim Varney, Douglas Seale, Noelle Parker, Oliver Clark
Directed by John Cherry
The Story:
Santa (Seale) comes to Florida to pass the mantle of Santa Claus on to a successor. He runs into cab driver Ernest P. Worrell (Varney) who has a heart of gold and the brains of a goldfish, but is willing to help the big guy complete his task before Christmas Eve.
Wow.
I had never seen any of the Ernest films until now.
I remember Varney's schtick from the 80s, and found his commercials (KnowWhatIMeanVern) hilarious.
Plus, he was a great Slinky Dog in the Toy Story franchise.
However, it was Ernest that made Varney a star, and earned him several movies.
8 Movies, if the tally on IMDB is to be believed.
8 movies??!! Wow...
I have now seen one of them, and the verdict is...
It wasn't that bad.
Varney was a commanding presence, and he was able to play other characters in this movie which showed the comedic range of the actor who was more than just Ernest.
There are some genuine laughs and funny moments, and odds are, if you liked this movie and have been making it a part of your holidays for the last 25 years, you have a soft spot in your heart for this one.
No rose-colored glasses for me, but I can see the appeal and enjoyment that this one can provide.
Available to stream instantly on Netflix as of this writing.
Final Grade: C+/B-
Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: While I wouldn't own it, it was silly enough to view again in the future.
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