Ernest Goes to Jail

Plot synopsis:
Security guards Chuck and Bobby play a game of Red light/Green light while being night watchmen for Howard County Bank and Trust and are obsessed with elaborate schemes of would-be thieves. They hear a sound coming from a floor polisher that Ernest is trying to turn on for operation - he works as a night custodian at the bank - and dreams that he would be a clerk, but he ends up making a mess in the bank and he becomes magnetic from a mishap with the floor polisher. The next day, bank president Oscar Pendlesmythe's assistant, Charlotte Sparrow requires him to clean up his supernatural mess. Pendlesmythe wants to terminate Ernest's employment at the bank, but Charlotte has a soft heart for misfits and stray dogs, so she argues on his behalf. Ernest takes a bath at home in a tumble dry washing machine and uses a blow dryer with a windtunnel force for his evening dinner with Charlotte in a restaurant. He later receives in the mail a summons to jury duty in court and tells the two watchmen about it. During the trial Dracup Maximum Security Prison convict Rubin Bartlett notices that death row inmate Felix Nash is a dead ringer for Ernest. Rubin's lawyer convinces the jury to tour the prison, where Ernest is kidnapped by Nash and another inmate named Lyle and forced to switch places with Nash. Even though he tries to tell the guards he is not Nash, they refuse to believe him. Ernest also does not know that he has a death sentence which is for Nash.
While having lunch, a guard tells them to stand up and be quiet, when he notices Ernest is making a lot of noise, which almost sends him into the cell. Ernest tries a first attempt to tell one of the prison guards that he is Ernest, not Nash, but the guard calls him "Mr. Funny Man" (which is a mistaken lie) and angrily says that he is not funny and is lying and throws him into the cell right in front of Lyle who pushes him back while the first attempt fails. When he pushes him near the prison bars, he tells a prison guard that he was beaten up (and accidentally slamming the guard's head on the bars). A prison guard tells Ernest that he will be sent to the hole, which makes Ernest realize he is in jail. He has numerous misadventures in prison (especially when trying to escape, e.g., when he attempts to fashion a gun out of soap and his scheme is revealed when the gun goes limp) until he is sent to the electric chair by the prison warden.
The electrocution fails, and he is transformed into a type of superhuman, with the ability to shoot lightning bolts from his hands, which shocks other jail members. Ernest escapes from the prison and makes his way home, only to discover that his Pee-wee Herman-like décor has been replaced by a slick Lounge Lizard style of decorating. He exclaims, "I've been vandalized - by Elvis!" Ernest then goes to the bank, in his old clothes, only to find that Nash has assumed his identity and is in the process of robbing the bank and is holding Chuck and Charlotte hostage. During the ensuing battle between the two of them he gets electrocuted yet again when Nash throws him against an electric cage that the bank had rigged to drop from the ceiling to catch robbers. Now Ernest has become polarized and gained the ability to fly. He uses his super powers to fly through the skylight of the bank with a bomb that Nash had attached to the vault which leads to a spectacular mid-air explosion. Everyone especially Chuck thinks that Ernest has been killed, until he falls through the skylight and lands on Nash, which leads the warden and the guards to find out Ernest was right all along. Ernest tiredly declares, "I came, I saw, I got blowed up" and then passes out.

Tags: cult

Review:
"Ernest Goes To Jail" is probably the BEST "Ernest" film ever made out of all of the films.
Jim Varney once again gives us more laughs as he plays the idiotic Ernest P.
In the movie Ernest is assigned jury duty for a murder trial.
Nash (who wants out of prison badly) the man who is on trial looks exactly like Ernest, and switches places with Ernest to escape from prison.
Jim Varney once again does an excellent job as the bumbling fool Ernest P.
Worrell as well as escaped criminal look a like Nash.
I thought it was cool how Varney switched continuosly throughout the movie with the 2 characters.
With that said, "Ernest Goes to Jail" is hilarious.
And, we get to see him play bad-guy, Mr. Felix Nash-quite a difference from Ernest's goofball slap stick.
No one gets electrocuted like Varney, KnoWhutImean?" The beginning of the movie has Ernest trying to start the floor polisher only to have it take on a mind of its own by dragging Ernest all over the floor and up the wall.
Any other jail movie would be loaded with violence and bad language and the fact is, I wouldn't care to watch them.
This is probably the only jail movie that was free of vulgarity and was still a treat to watch.
Varney made his Ernest movies kid friendly-for all ages to enjoy.
When I first saw "Ernest Goes to Jail" at 14 when it first came out, I wanted a house like Ernest's, right down to that cool washer and dryer.
We all know that Jim paved the way for people like Jim Carrey and Larry the Cable Guy, but Varney kept it clean.
Of course, with any Ernest movie, it will receive the highest rating possible..
Ernest Goes To Jail is the 3rd installment in the popular series, and in my humble opinion, the best.
Jim Varney brings so much humor and character to the table in whatever he is in.
So many jokes in the Ernest movies I did not get as a child, however, after viewing them as adults, I find them even more funny.
Varney shines in this movie:doing all the different voices, faces, and characters we have grown to love.
Jim Varney does a complete 180 turn from his bumbling, idiotic Ernest P.
The look, the voice, and the attitude are very different from the other character, which is a what a good actor should do if playing 2 roles.
Also Chuck and Bobby provide great slapstick humor as always, and this film is a comedy classic that can be viewed by all ages.
Jim Varney left this old world way too fast, but he also left us comic treasures in film such as this movie..
This "Ernest film" is a typically silly, stupid-at-times one but still wholesome in its humor and sometimes very funny.The best moments in here, at least the ones that made me laugh hardest, were in the bank with Jim Varney ("Ernest") and a runaway vacuum cleaner.
Yes, there is a lot of juvenile humor in here, but the totally-innocent lightweight humor is fun.Varney also does some imitations in here, and he's quite good at it.
If I had to decide which was the best Ernest movie, and don't act like that sort of thing doesn't happen all time, it would be this one.All of the Ernest movies are entertaining, but the best ones are the ones that have Jim Varney doing a number of different characters.
"Ernest Goes to Jail" contains all of those elements as well as a funny script and a supporting cast that features several beloved character actors.And that is why I have chosen "Ernest Goes to Jail" as the king of all Ernest movies.
This time, the lovable dimwit gets summoned for jury duty, where a corrupt attorney notices that he looks like a jailbird who wants to break out, so the two get switched.
Of course, most of the movie is a series of gags; in "Ernest Goes to Jail", most of the gags relate to electricity.
The best of Jim Varney.
The best of Jim Varney.
The last good Ernest movie, and the best at that.
The last line is a classic, as is Ernest's gangster impressions, his best moment on film.
Bank janitor Ernest unwillingly switches place with lookalike convict Felix Nash.
Jim Varney plays both parts, of course.
Let's face it, Ernest movies are about as low-brow as it gets.
This one's no "Ernest Goes to Camp" but it's better than the rest of the dreadful Ernest movies from the '90s.
After a convoluted switch Ernest if behind bars while his evil counterpart Nash is working night security at the bank, planning to rob it and make moves on Ernest's girl.It's a familiar plot, and the production values are not that great (what's with all the pink lighting in jail?) but Jim Varney's mugging and the story's eccentric imagination make it a fun watch.
It's a tighter movie than Camp though, which I felt was a bit of a false start to his big screen adventures.It's hard to believe Varney was only 40 at the time of filming, and that he'd only live another 10 years.
As crass as the Ernest movies might be they are a constant reminder of an actor who's abilities were wide, but never got the recognition he deserved..
Best Ernest movie of the series but have more to watch yet.
Best Ernest movie of the series but have more to watch yet.
I have to be in a special mood to watch this, but it's one of those movies that I watch with my dad, and we end up holding our sides from laughter.'Ernest goes to jail' is the only one of the Ernests that I can watch on a tolerating level.
Somehow though Jim Varney and entertaining story lines makes this series continue to be successful and fun to watch.
This time Bank Janitor Ernest goes to jail, swapping places with a look a like bank robber on death row named Nash.
Great fun for the entire family - Jim Varney has the character of "Ernest" down!.
Sometimes goofy, slapstick movies like this can be great fun.
Jim Varney as Ernest is a hoot.
With the 'Ernest' film series, there are people who get much entertainment out of them and finds a lot of appeal in Ernest.
There are also people who dislike, or even outright hate, the films and find the character annoying.For me, while they are not great films, the 'Ernest' films are mostly silly harmless fun that don't try to be any more than they need to be.
'Ernest Goes to Jail' is the third of the series, after 'Goes to Camp' and 'Saves Christmas' (both uneven but fun too), and is one of the better ones too.'Ernest Goes to Jail' may not be great.
Lastly, the ending is overblown and insultingly dumb, Ernest films are not known for their logic but this ending throws it out the window and urinates on it.Varney however is immensely likable and a lot of fun as Ernest, while also excelling surprisingly well on villain duty and as Auntie Nelda.
The supporting cast are much better than the one in 'Ernest Goes to Camp' (though not on the same page as Douglas Seale in 'Saves Christmas'), with a scene stealing Gailard Sartain and Randall "Tex" Cobb charming in a good guy role.The music is an energetic nostalgic delight, and most of the gags and dialogue while admittedly silly are a range of making one amused to having one in hysterics, all done harmlessly and with no signs of distaste.
Despite being predictable, the story in 'Goes to Jail' feels like there actually is one at least and it goes at a zippy pace, the best paced of the series so far at this point.In summary, guilty pleasure fun.
While saying this is the best Ernest movie is NOT a glowing endorsement, this is a decent film and you could certainly do worse.
PS--if you tolerate or actually love this film, also try watching Ernest Saves Christmas.
You'll have seen all the Ernest movies worth watching..
If you only see one Ernest movie in your life, make it this one!
This is by far the best in the series, with its nonstop laughs and clever humor that is suitable for all ages.
The other "Ernest" flicks were good too, but most people tend to get tired of him quickly (not ME, however.).In this movie, Ernest P.
The murderer, Nash, just happens to look EXACTLY like our bumbling hero Ernest.
Mr. Nash finds this a good opportunity to escape from jail by knocking him out switching identities with him, and so we get to see how Ernest reacts in the slammer.A great flick!
Though long believed to be Jim Varney's creation, the character Ernest is steeped in literary lore.
This is debatable, though, since there are three specific short stories by expatriate writers using the stock Earnst character: Fitzgerald's "Earnst Isn't Rich," Joyce's "Day in the Life of the Janitor," and Hemingway's "Dead Whore on a Mountain." All of these stories, and an accumulated history on this character that was passed by some of the great writers of the twentieth century, can be found in the forthcoming "The Importance of Being Earnst," edited by Joyce Carol Oates.It was this literary tradition that led director, former ad executive, and "co-creator" John Cherry to take the dare and approach one of the days finest writers, Philip Roth, to tackle a tale of Ernest.
The simean grafted the script onto the other Ernest movies, including a several references to the ever-present anti-holiday-consumerism themes of "Ernest Saves Christmas." Unfortunately the arragutang, Benny, died before he could finish, and his trainer Charlie Cohen ending up getting final credit.But the tale doesn't end there.
He also worked in thinly veiled criticisms of the Ernest movies in between "Goes to Jail" and "Pirate," including a line that went, "I've been scared stupid, I've rode again, I've slam dunked, I've even been in the army, but I've never been a pirate before.
"Ernest Goes to Jail" is one of the best films in the Ernest series, mainly because of the story and the actors.
Of course, Jim Varney as Ernest P.
Worrell, but Charles Napier as the Warden and Gailard Sartan as Ernest's neighbor Chuck (a security guard) all make for good laughs.The story goes that Ernest works for a bank, and he aspires to be a bank teller.
However, when on jury duty for a homicide, the defendant, Lyle, sees a resemblance to his prison buddy Felix Nash (played by Jim Varney).When the jury takes a trip to the prison, Nash and Ernest switch places and no one can tell the difference.
ernest goes to jail is the best of all the ernest movies.
this is the best ernest movie.
this is the best ernest movie.
they should've stopped after this one,because the ernest movies got too unfunny,and dumb.
i give ernest goes to jail *** out of ****.
Blowed Up. Visiting a "maximum security" prison during jury duty, hapless bank janitor Jim Varney (as Ernest P.
Worrell) is switched with a look-alike inmate named "Felix Nash" (also played by Mr. Varney).
Out of jail free, nasty Mr. Nash can't believe his good luck upon discovering he now works in a bank with kissable blonde Barbara Bush (as Charlotte Sparrow).
In this one, Ernest has haphazard magnetic powers, which come in handy during execution.**** Ernest Goes to Jail (4/6/90) John Cherry ~ Jim Varney, Barbara Bush, Gailard Sartain, Bill Byrge.
john cherry is a good director and a funny guy, even though his other earnests weren't so good.Humor 7/10Story 8.5/10Acting 6.5/10Overall 7.333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333 etc./10.
The Best Ernest film.
Yes, I had the misfortune of watching this film when I was younger at a friends house as his mother was a teacher and she wanted to screen the movie and see if there were any inappropriate scenes that a parent might object to.
Well other than the unfunny jokes I think this one was in the clear, well the unfunny jokes and the strange scene where the look a like Ernest hits on a girl.
So yes, Ernest gets thrown in jail thanks to a look a like and proceeds to try to escape and there is other stuff to it like him becoming magnetized at one point, shooting electricity, and in a very painful to watch finale flying.
This and camp are the only two Ernest movies I have ever seen and from what I have seen in them I am not going to track down the other films.
Ernest was good in small doses, but a movie is just to much even when it is as short as this one.
I figure though the films made money, mainly because all you need is Varney and a location and a theme and you have your movie..
Unfortunately, most think this is the best of the line, but if you loved the essence of what made Ernest, Ernest, you will realize to what I refer about fifteen minutes into this work.
Visit the Ernest fun club web site at www.ernestfunclub.com There are several movies such as the following: Ernest Goes to Camp, Ernest Saves Christmas, Ernest Goes to Jail, Ernest in the Army, Ernest Goes to School, Ernest Rides Again Slam Dunk Ernest etc.
All star Jim Varney again try visiting www.ernestfunclub.com Which is the best Ernest movie?
Jim Verney as we know was very good with facial expressions and demonstrates a lot of it in this movie.This is definitely the best of the Ernest films.I would surely recommend it to any Ernest fan out there.i find myself to have great taste in movies and I'm sure anyone will enjoy this movie.
In the movie ,(Ernest) plays 2 roles, bad guy and good guy and plays them quite well.
I really enjoy exaggeration type humor where things just seem impossible,like in the naked gun films for example, and there is plenty of it in this movie.I bought this movie right after i saw it.
Was it the fact that Jim Varney played two different people, or was it the fact that there was just something wrong with my sense of humor today.
However, Jim Varney gave one of his better performances by playing Nash, his criminal alter ego.
Jim Varney not only plays Ernest, but doubles as the evil Mr. Nash.
From start to finish this movie has some solid laughs and makes a good family film!
Another great Ernest film.
Jim Varney, Gailard Sartain, Barbara Tyson and Randall 'Tex' Cobb star in this 1990 comedy sequel.
the late, Varney returns as bumbling, nice guy, Ernest who works as a custodian at a Bank.
Soon, he's assigned jury duty and finds himself in jail when switched with a dangerous, look-alike criminal, Nash (Also played by Varney).
Ernest tries to act like Nash to avoid suspicion with help from felon, Lyle (Cobb) and eventually escapes after gaining an electromagnetic ability.
Tyson plays Charlotte, a bank secretary who likes Ernest and Sartain plays Ernest's pal, Chuck who works as the bank's security guard.
This is my favorite of the Ernest films and Varney was great in both roles.
All the staff at the bank think Mr. Nash  is Ernest.
Ernest gets zapped at jail but he escapes and burns the whole jailhouse down.
2nd best of the ernest series, great as a b-movie.
**May contain Spoilers** Okay, I just finished watching Ernest goes to Jail.
The movie is not really funny, it's humorous.
Personally, I love Jim Varney, and I enjoy the Ernest character enough that i can sympathize out of a certain nostalgia.
Varney is surprisingly convincing as the "Nash" character of a mean-streaked jail bird.
4. Ernest shares the screen with his other self "Nash" and they ensue in an on screen fight, which is of course varney vs.
varney, sort of like ash vs.
6. Ernest gets electrocuted about 6 or 7 times 7.
And lastly, a bit of dark humor particularly in one scene in the last 20 mins of the movie where Ernest is taken to the electric chair to be executed.
Well here's why, Jim Varney died at the fairly young age of 50.
Okay, this is another Ernest movie and a lot of people just don't like them because they think they are dumb.
In this movie he actually gets to stretch himself by playing not only playing the insipid, bumbling character of Ernest but also the hard case gangster who he is the twin of.
Jim Varney made a career (until his untimely death) out of playing Ernest and he did it well, after all look at how many Ernest movies are out there..
Ernest Goes to Jail (1990): Dir: John R.
Cherry III / Cast: Jim Varney, Gailard Sartain, Barbara Bush, Randall "Tex" Cobb, Bill Byrge: Average comedy that treats its prison theme with contempt.
The next film should be called Ernest Goes to Therapy, which he should seek if he finds the slightest joy in jury duty.
Ernest is a janitor at a bank where a jury duty opportunity has him knocked unconscious and replaced by a criminal look-alike who happens to be on death row.
Jim Varney should be given credit for playing off two very different roles successfully.
Randall "Tex" Cobb plays a prison inmate who is to teach Ernest how to be his look-a-like while becoming fond of his good natured qualities.
My dad and I would always watch the "Ernest Movies" together.
I love all of the "Ernest Movies," but this one is my favorite.Spoiler part!
It's perfect for families (it isn't like a lot of the trash out there) but at the same time adults can laugh too!