Product Details

• Actors: Jim Varney, Victoria Racimo, John Vernon, Iron Eyes Cody, Lyle Alzado
• Directors: John R. Cherry III
• Writers: John R. Cherry III, Coke Sams, Glenn Petach, Steve Leasure
• Producers: Elmo Williams, Martin Erlichman, Stacy Williams
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
• Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Buena Vista Home Ent
• VHS Release Date: June 21, 1991
• Run Time: 92 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6300277070
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #204,084 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Going Back to Camp., December 2, 2003

By 

tvtv3 "tvtv3" (Sorento, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Ernest Goes to Camp (DVD)

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!

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hey Vern, check out my summer camp home movie....., September 5, 2002

By 

Gwyn Gwyrdd "geek" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ernest Goes to Camp (DVD)

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.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ernest for President, Vern!!, April 4, 2005

By 

Puddin Tane "Ask me Again!" (Baldwin County, Alabama) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ernest Goes to Camp (DVD)

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.