Ernest Goes to Jail (1990)

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Top Critics

Average Rating: 3.8/10
Reviews Counted: 8
Fresh: 1 | Rotten: 7

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Release Date: Apr 6, 1990 Wide

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Average Rating: 2.6/5
User Ratings: 41,817

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Movie Info

In Ernest Goes to Jail, Jim Varney returns as leering idiot savant Ernest P. Worrall, star of scores of TV commercials and feature films. Varney also takes on a second role in the film: an unrepentant, cold-blooded murderer named Felix Nash. When Ernest serves on the jury for Nash's murder trial, Nash arranges for look-alike Ernest to go to jail, while he stays on the outside to plan a major bank heist. Fortuitously for the criminal, it's the same bank where Ernest works as a security guard. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

PG, 1 hr. 21 min.

Comedy, Kids & Family

Directed By: John R. Cherry III

In Theaters: Apr 6, 1990 Wide

On DVD: Sep 3, 2002

Cast

Jim Varney
Ernest P. Worrell, Mr. ...
Gailard Sartain
Chuck
Bill Byrge
Bobby
Barbara Bush
Charlotte Sparrow
Barry Scott
Rubin Bartlett
Randall "Tex" Cobb
Lyle
Dan Leegant
Oscar Pendlesmythe
Charles Napier
Warden
Jim Conrad
Eddie
Jackie Welch
Judge
Bob Babbitt
Washing Con
Mac Bennett
Con
Buck Ford
Defense Attorney
Mike Hutchinson
Gate Guard
Charles Lamb
Con
Myke R. Mueller
Vinnie
Rick Shulman
Mean Guard
Andrew Stahl
Jerry
Melanie Wheeler
Prosecutor
Bruce Arntson
Juror
Daniel Butler
Waiter
Michael Montgomery
Warden's Assistant
John Davis
Other Guard

Critic Reviews for Ernest Goes to Jail

All Critics (11) | Top Critics (2) | Fresh (1) | Rotten (7) | DVD (1)

Jim Varney at the peak of his comedic powers, playing two instantly distinctive roles. If you only ever see one Ernest movie, make it this one.

June 24, 2004 Comment

Luke Y. Thompson

New Times

Here's one fictitious Ernest sequel that fits my sentiments exactly: "Ernest Gets on my Last Nerve". "Nuff said...

May 31, 2003 Comment

Frank Ochieng

TheWorldJournal.com

He was convicted for homicidal mugging.

July 25, 2002 Comment

Scott Weinberg

eFilmCritic.com

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Audience Reviews for Ernest Goes to Jail

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The question isn't why did I watch this film, but instead why did I watch THE ENTIRE THING START TO FINISH? Not funny. Not even stupid funny, though Jim Varney was a terribly underrated actor in his lifetime.

June 1, 2008