Ernest Goes to Camp (1987)

ERNEST GOES TO CAMP was the first of the Ernest movies and it was made in the hey-day of Jim Varney's career as Ernest. The movie was made when Varney had a Saturday morning television show and was still making those popular television commercials on a regular basis. The film precedes other ventures in Varney's career, such as his voice work in the TOY STORY films. Next to ERNEST SAVES CHRISTMAS, ERNEST GOES TO CAMP is the best of all the Ernest movies that were made.

Unlike the other Varney films, Varney sticks to playing Ernest. Ernest works at a summer camp for boys as a maintenance man. He longs to be a camp counselor, but the director feels he isn't qualified. However, when the camp participates in a "Second Chance" program for delinquint boys and no one else seems to be able to handle them, Ernest is given the job of being their counselor. At first the gang finds him annoying and a push-over, but over time they come to respect him and realize all he has done for them. The climax of the movie erupts when a nearby mining company threatens to takeover the camp after duping the Native American chief who owned the land. Ernest won't stand by and see the camp destroyed and with the help from his boys they take on the mining company.

The movie is full of dumb humor that kids are sure to enjoy. I remember laughing hysterically when I originally saw this film in the theatre. My tastes have changed since then, but after watching the movie again on DVD, I still enjoyed it for what it was: a big, dumb movie with an awful lot of heart. The movie is a great family movie because it contains no foul language or sexual innduendo and very little violence. It's also a joy to watch because it illustrates the comic genius of Jim Varney back in his prime. Plus, it has the only film I know of that includes turtle paratroopers. Happy viewing!

At last, Jim Varney's films are on DVD. All I can say is, it's about time! However, considering his sad, early death a couple of years ago, you'd think there would be a few extras on these screwball camp classics. Interviews, outtakes, something. But at least we get to bring Ernest home, the guy with the small brains, big heart, and the most flexible face you've ever seen.

This is the first of the Ernest flicks, and considered by most to be his best. Ernest is a maintenance man at a boy's summer camp who gets stuck with a group of juvenile delinquents no one else wants to work with. His innocence, acceptence, and naivete are exactly what the boys need and slowly, he works change in their hearts. Of course, they take great advantage of his dim wits in the beginning with hilarious results. In spite of their joking, Ernest cares for the boys and tries his hardest to be the best camp counselor he can be.

The movie is full of as much camp humor as one can muster the food jokes probably being the most extreme and hilarious. We even get to hear Ernest sing. The tone changes midway as the camp is introduced to a crisis. A mining corporation longs to buy the camp for its rich resources and takes advantage of Ernest's low wattage brain power to get it's way. A battle of great proportions ensues, complete with indian war paint, disgusting camp food, and my personal favorite, paratrooper turtles. The paratrooper turtles instantly landed this camp movie in the category of campy classics. And believe it or not, in the middle of all this screwy humor, there are some truly touching moments and some great moral lessons.

The movie is true family fare, free of language, sexual innuendo, or other things that find their way into family films these days. It is a great way to initiate summer and to reminisce about the glory days of summer camp. The biggest difference between this and other Ernest films is the lack of characters played by Varney. He is Ernest almost the entire film and if my memory serves me correctly, Vern may not even be present. But the movie is Ernest all the way and Jim Varney fans will not be dissappointed. You will be sorely missed Ernest.

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I've must have watched this movie 500 times and just cant get enough of `ol Ernest P. How could a man THIS funny be gathered to jesus at such a young age is beyond my understandin. The turtle should have won an oscar, too, that's one smart reptile! They can't do HALF the stuff that little guy did here in Alabama. I tell ya, if Ernest Worrel was MY camp counselor, I'd a turned out a whole lot better than I am now.

I'm trying to collect the whole series and the only one I'm lacking so far is the first (and greatest) "Dr. Otto and the Riddle of the Gloom Beam." In this classic, Jim Varney (Ernest, in case you didn't know he is an actor just PLAYING the character Ernest) plays 5 different characters and REALLY gets to show off his skills. A true master of the art. I cry every time he sings that song about rain.

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I have been a fan of Ernest movies since I was a little kid with Ernest Goes to Camp being my personal favorite. Needless to say, if you haven't seen this movie, then it's totally worh the cheap 5 dollar price for fun 80's entertainment. My actual problem is with the release of the Blu-ray that makes me feel like they are ripping me off even with the bargain basement price. I've seen crappy releases before but this takes the cake, no love was put into this. The picture quality is great but there are still pops and snares in the movie, also the sound is just 2.0 surround and not even 5.1. But what really kills me is the fact that there isn't a SINGLE FEATURE on this release. I'm not expecting deleted scenes or commentary (the majority of the starring cast has passed on) or even bloopers, but at least give me some SCENE SELECTIONS for crying out loud. THe movie just plays then goes to a menu screen at the conclusion of the film with just a PLAY MOVIE option that floats in the air. Ernest deserves better than this, Jim Varney deserves better than this, and with a franchise that spanned over 8 films and is as beloved as this one is, this one deserves better. Please come out with a special edition or something and do what is right for such a beloved film.

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Let's get this out of the way at the outset, you either like this guy or you don't. He's either hilarious or excruciatingly dumb. I identify myself as an Ernest fan, and I will admit that that has a ton to do with growing up as a child in the 80s. He was a product of his time, aimed toward a certain audience and I was of that time and audience. I find the man hilarious. Ernest Goes to Camp isn't my favorite Ernest movie, but it is easily one of the better in his never-ending catalog. The crown, for me, goes to Ernest Saves Christmas, but as with many, my movie introduction to the man came when he went to camp and made the staggering leap from inept handyman to inept, but caring, camp counselor. Of course, I'd known Ernest for a while because of the prevalent commercials on tv at the time, but his brand of wacky and physical humor always did it for me. I firmly understand that this humor isn't for everybody, but I enjoyed it. I found Jim Varney to be, despite the quality of the movies he was in, a very gifted creator of characters. The movies really took off when he was able to riff on different personalities, but unfortunately, he didn't do too much of that in his debut film. Instead, he inhabits his character with the very quality of the name he'd given him and injected him with a massive amount of heart. He may bumble around like a fool, but like the wayward kids he was put in charge of, he wins you over with his unending optimism and good nature. It's refreshing to find a good, clean movie that you aren't afraid to show your kids that puts forth a nice message amongst all the silly goings on. Best of all, you will learn what to never, ever do if you run across a mess of badgers.

The movie on blu-ray, unfortunately, isn't much to write home about. The video quality is probably better than the dvd version, but I don't know that it's enough or the type of movie that mandates an upgrade to the superior format. The special features are lacking, but it is a good price. If you don't already own the regular dvd version and are a fan of the man in the hat and denim vest, it's a good, cheap pick up. If you however already own the dvd, an upgrade probably isn't very necessary unless you're just a completist. And if you are, as I said, it's not like the movie costs an arm and a leg.

I enjoy this movie, even as an adult. The humor probably doesn't work on me as well now as it did back in the mid 80s when I was 6 or 7, but I get a kick out of watching the man do his thing. If anything, re-watching the movie reminds me that I miss Jim Varney and I wish he was still around entertaining the kids and the kid in us with his wacky characters.

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