ERNEST SAVES CHRISTMAS (1988)(Retro)
PG
95 Minutes
Director: John R. Cherry III
Writers: Ed Turner, B. Kline
Jim Varney, Douglas Seale and Oliver Clark
Jim Varney ...Ernest P. Worrell
Douglas Seale ...Santa
Oliver Clark ...Joe Carruthers
Well, there you go.
I messed things up, like always.
Only now, I messed up Christmas
for everybody. My favorite time of year,
and I blew it! -Ernest (Movie Dialogue)
The Importance of Being Ernest
After A CHRISTMAS STORY, and before HOME ALONE, we had ERNEST SAVES CHRISTMAS.
Culturally, 1988 was awful. It was so awful, that ERNEST SAVES CHRISTMAS was not the worst movie to come out that year.
Ernest was a character invented by studio executives in the 80s. For those of my readers who don't remember the cultural phenomenon of 'Ernest'; shame on you, I'm embarrassed for the both of us. For those of you who have seen every 'Ernest' movie, stop reading my review, enough of your time has been wasted.
Varney's character was the personification, and embodiment of all 'THREE STOOGES'. The problem is, slapstick lost its appeal 50 years ago. Ernest is more slapdick comedy; the way he jerks us around, without arriving at any humorous climax.
Like 'Gallagher', There is no explaining why people liked him. Or how he hung around, just long enough, to permanently secure a spot on the Parthenon of American pop culture.
With ERNEST SAVES CHRISTMAS, Ernest impersonates a variety of characters, with stunning accuracy. Lawyer, snake caretaker, elderly woman, and actor. And so it seems, Dana Carvey, the 'Master of Disguise, doesn't have a monopoly on impersonating multiple characters in the same film.
Jim Varney spent a large part of his life portraying 'Ernest', before moving on as a distinguished thespian in the Royal Shakespeare Company. That last part was a mistake. I was confusing Jim Varney with Ian McKellen...again. Sincerest apologies.
Truthfully, as far as his legacy is concerned, Varney probably wants to be remembered for his later voiceover work, as well as that bizarre cameo on the last season of ROSEANNE, but not as some yokel in a denim vest. Unfortunately, there is no reversing the damage already done.
Not everything is wrong with this movie. Young children might like it, I know I loved it, that is, before knowing any better. On a positive note, Douglas Seale does give us the best depiction of Santa in cinematic history. It's just a shame, he had to be in such a poor movie.
Final Verdict: 10 out 100
Sidenote: The Ernest thing isn't done yet, check out this story: Ernest Gets a Reboot with Son of Ernest. End this madness, now, please, let's not corrupt another generation of America. We need people to collect my bed pans, when I'm at a nursing home.
