Ernest Saves Christmas
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Movie Reviews of Ernest Saves Christmas
Movie Review: ERNEST DOES SAVE CHRISTMAS & THIS GEM IS A CHRISTMAS CLASSIC
Summary: 5 Stars
YES - I AM AN ERNEST FAN! ISN'T EVERYONE?
Like most everyone who reviews Ernest films, I am an Ernest fan -- but I wasn't always. Then, in 1990, I just happened to stumble onto "Ernest Goes To Jail" via its opening -- "Ernest versus the Rug Shampooer"! It did not matter that it was on a marble floor, this was classic ERNEST -- knowwhutImean?!
HOW DOES ERNEST SAVE CHRISTMAS?
DON'T ASK!
WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT?
Santa Claus [Douglas Seale -- the Sultan from Disney's Aladdin] has to retire as he can't remember all the things he must any longer. He held on one year too many because he just loved the job as any true Santa would, but he has now resorted to taking notes, and as he points out, you just can't do the job that way. Christmas is indeed in jeopardy.
Santa shows up in Orlando, right before Christmas Eve, as his choice of successor is there. Ernest is the cab driver that picks up Santa, which is how they became acquainted. The new Santa, a washed-up kiddie-show host in Orlando, Joe Carruthers [Oliver Clark], must be enpowered by the old Santa, before he can take his place. Unfortunately, he (Joe) has to believe it first, and that's only where the trouble begins!
Along the way, the real Santa ends up in jail on Christmas Eve and it's up to Ernest P. Worrall (Jim Varney) to bust him out and save Christmas. Ernest gets help from a gaggle of supporting characters, a handful of which he plays himself, including a slick-talking attorney from the governor's office.
WHO IS "MISTER SANTOS"?
What gets everything all messed up for Santa and the whole world is Joe's agent Marty [Robert Lesser], who wants Joe to take a film role on a Christmas "slasher" film titled "Christmas Slay". Naturally, Santa is strongly opposed and he is still waiting to speak privately with Joe about the Santa position. At this point, Marty tells the police that Santa is actually a holiday nut-job whose real name is Mr. Santos. Yes, you heard right -- MISTER SANTOS -- a Santa impersonator! Next thing, Santa [AKA: MR. SANTOS] is in jail on Christmas Eve!
Now, only Ernest can save Christmas -- knowwhutImean?
ALONG THE WAY:
There is a good deal of silliness and sappiness along the way, and it is all good clean fun for the whole family, which can't be said for many films today. Sure, new ground is not broken here, but Christmas is not new. Nevertheless, this clean-fun sort of sentimental silliness is pretty fresh and, given a strong Ernest influence, quite different from the typical holiday fare.
BOTTOM LINE:
This is an essential Ernest flick and this is a classic in a traditional sense too-- an Ernest sense and a solid cinematic effort in its own right. knowwhutImean?
ABOUT THE DVD:
This is a very good WIDESCREEN transfer with NO FEATURES unless you consider scene selection a feature.
Movie Review: A touching and hilarious Christmas CLASSIC
Summary: 5 Stars
It amazes me how much this movie has been passed over in the annals of Christmas classics. It is one of my family's personal favorites. For starters, it has some of the most beautiful opening credits I've seen in a Christmas film - gorgeous Norman Rockwell illustrations of Santa Claus mixed with classic accapella music. For those of you that love Ernest, this is his hands down his very best film. Unlike his other films, he is not the central character here. He is definitely an important player, but the story centers around an aging, forgetful Santa Claus looking for a predecessor. Most of the film is centered around Santa's efforts to convince the man he's sure is suited for the job that he truly is Claus. Ernest, in his glorious innocence, is a believer from the beginning, and a sidekick runaway picked up part way through the film is his polar opposite.
Jim Varney really shows his comedy chops in this movie by whipping out just about ever character he's ever played. The snake man is my personal favorite and has me in tears from laughing every time. He pretty much pulls out the funniest stuff he's ever done and puts it all here in one movie. The cheese is thick, but it's high quality cheese, and Jim Varney takes his comedy seriously and treats it with respect, which is what makes this movie work.
Some of the funniest scenes are played by two regulars in Varney films, working here as airport luggage and crate workers who receive some unusual crates from the north pole.
As all Ernest movies, ESC is as endearing and touching as it is humorous - perhaps more so than any other Ernest film. On top of that, this probably had the largest budget of any Ernest film ever made and it shows. Some of the effects toward the end of the film as Ernest is racing around in Santa's sled are truly stunning and a real joy to watch.
Vern is here in full force in this film, and the scene with him is the funniest Vern scene ever made. Ernest really makes a mess of things for the poor guy as usual.
In short, this Christmas classic is unlike any other. It is not Christmas in my house without this light hearted and good natured comedy. Enjoy the season in a whole new way with Vern and Ernest. Ho Ho Ho Merry Christmas, know what I mean Vern?
Movie Review: Ernest helps Santa bring Christmas to the world!
Summary: 5 Stars
I am a big Ernest fan, I have been for years. So, as you could probably guess, my review will be biased, but hey, take what you can get.
As you could guess from the title (or at least I hope you could), this movie is about Ernest saving Christmas. The plot itself is pretty typical, but like most good movies, it is not the originality that makes the movie good, it is the presentation, and this movie excels in that.
The man who plays as Santa, Douglas Seale, is good, but really, how hard is it to act like Santa? You could get a hobo off the street and train him to act like a good Santa. What makes Seale good is that when he laughs, it actually sounds genuine. Also, he doesn't have the stereotypical giant coat of fur around his face. Finally, his voice actually fits. It's not that most Santas have horrible voices, it's just that some people are not meant to play as Santa...
Next, Ernest is his usual lovable self in this movie. He is a taxi driver (who is rather bad at driving) that ends up helping Santa when it is revealed that he arrived in order to find a replacement Santa. However, when the replacement, Joe Carruthers (Oliver Clark), refuses, it turns bad. Things goes worst when a girl on a bad path steals steals his bag of presents.
Some recognizable faces from the usual Ernest movies appears and also new faces. This is a great movie no one should miss! Myself? I thought it was a classic!
Movie Review: C'MON VERN!!!!!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
Jim Varney, AKA Ernest P Whirrel (god bless) Of course you should own just about all of the Ernest movies because they are all HILLARIOUS! I saw this one in the movies when I was about five years old. Its a little bit corny, due to the fact that the guy who plays Santa Claus is a complete tool, but Ernest as always saves this movie and makes it cool. Plot: In order to find a troubled teen girl realize that there really is a Santa Claus, Ernest tries to locate the real St. Nick. Or something like that... any way, if you are looking for a funny family Christmas movie, this one is funny, yet mild enough for kids young and old.
Movie Review: Ernist Saves Christmas
Summary: 5 Stars
Ernest Saves Christmas (1988)
I watched this movie when it came out in Florida 1988. I laughed so hard my face and chest hurt. Now older of course but still in love and always will be with Christmas, I never get tired of this movie. One of the best you can buy. Corny? Goofy? Yes it is. Think about what we're watching and why your watching it. Most of us had the jolly fat man in our dreams when we were young at some point and this is just perfect to bring back some of those thoughts and a good laugh on top of it.