Home
Home

Ernest Goes To Jail (1990)

DVD Cover (Buena Vista Home Entertainment)
Add to Collection
Sign up to add this to your collection
Add to Favorites
Sign up to add this to your favorites
Overall Rating 63%
Overall Rating
Ranked #4,570
...out of 20,319 movies
Check In? Sign up to check in!

Connections: Ernest P. Worrell

Bumbling Ernest P. Worrell is assigned to jury duty, where a crooked lawyer notices a resemblance with crime boss Mr. Nash, and arranges a switch. Nash assumes Ernest's job as a bank employee, while Ernest undergoes Nash's sentence to the electric chair. But instead of killing him, the electrocution gives Ernest superhuman powers, enabling him to escape from jail and foil Nash's attempt to rob the bank. --IMDb
User Image
Review by Nirrad
Added: June 10, 2009
I have always been a fan of the Ernest movies for as long as I can remember. I used to rent these movies all the time and watched them regularly. I was also a big fan of the show "Hey Vern!", but out of all of the movies, I would have to say that one of the best entries in the Ernest saga is definitely "Ernest Goes To Jail."

Ernest P. Worrell (Jim Varney) is just a clumsy janitor working at a bank. He goes through his daily routines until one day he gets called for jury duty. He immediately jumps on the position hoping it will impress his co-worker and crush Charlotte (Barbara Tyson) as well as his boss. Ernest wants to be promoted to clerk, but his boss keeps declining because he knows that Ernest is a clumsy idiot. During the trial, prisoner Rubin (Barry Scott) notices that Ernest looks exactly like death row inmate Nash (Jim Varney). He believe that if Nash switches places with Ernest, then Rubin could be proven innocent and Nash would then be able to live Ernest's life as a free man. The trial is extended and the jury is asked to visit the prison so that they are given the opportunity to see how the inmates live. During this time Nash is able to knock Ernest unconscious, steal his clothes, and leaves... making the jury believe that he is Ernest. Ernest wakes up inside the jail and is forced to act like Nash by Rubin and Lyle (Randall 'Tex' Cobb). Ernest accepts as he realizes that Nash was a feared and respected man, and he begins to enjoy this until he finds out that Nash was scheduled to be executed. He tries to escape but fails multiple times. Ernest now must find a way to escape before his death and before Nash completely takes over his life and hurts the people that he loves.

This movie is just so damn funny. I don't know what it is, but I just love these Ernest movies. Deep down I know that they are just downright terrible, but I can't help but have a soft spot for them. The acting is not so bad in "Ernest Goes To Jail", you would expect it to be a disaster but it never really gets there, which is simply amazing considering. One thing I love about these movies are the characters that Ernest brings to the table. Even though Nash is an evil man and is not supposed to be funny, he actually has some pretty funny moments. More awkward than funny, but I still enjoy it! We are also treated to Auntie Nelda during his "escape." The courtroom scene near the beginning of the movie is probably one of the funniest scenes I have ever seen, IN MY OPINION. Ernest is sitting listening to the judge and is biting his pen until it breaks and the ink pours all over his face. Just his reaction and comments are downright hilarious. I don't care what anyone says, that's funny material!

There are some complaints though. Some of the jokes fall flat, and some scenes go on for far too long. For example, at the beginning of the movie Ernest becomes magnetized and has to outrun and dodge everything metal in the room. He is also battling a floor washer that seems to have a mind of its own. This whole scene goes on for roughly 5 minutes or so and is pretty boring to watch minus a few seconds. Thankfully this is probably the worst part in the movie and it's over and done with within the first 10 minutes, then we are treated to comedy gold.

"Ernest Goes To Jail" is not the best Ernest movie, but it's definitely up there. I personally believe the best goes to "Ernest Goes To Camp". I know a lot of you out there will hate me for this, but this movie is funny to me, and when it comes down to it that's all that matters!

8/10.
Griffinheart #1: Griffinheart - added June 13, 2009 at 12:41am
This movie was far better than it should have been.
Sign up to add your comment. Sign up to add your comment.
Recommended Movies
Ernest Scared Stupid Ernest Goes To Camp Ernest Saves Christmas Knowhutimean? Hey Vern, It's My Family Album Ernest Goes To Africa Dr. Otto And The Riddle Of The Gloom Beam Slam Dunk Ernest Ernest In The Army Ernest Rides Again Ernest's Greatest Hits, Volume 1 Hey Vern, It's Ernest!: Season 1 Ernest Goes To School Ernest's Greatest Hits, Volume 2 Home Alone Home Alone 2: Lost In New York Problem Child 2 Home Alone 3 Problem Child 3: Junior In Love
Layout, reviews and code © 2000-2024 | Privacy Policy
Contact: Join us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Review Updates